



















) 



I 



J. S. OGILVIE AND COMPANY’S 


Fireside Series. 


\ 



. » 
5 


By Miss M. C. Keller. 


J. S. OGILVIE & COMPANY, 

57 Rose Street, New York; 79 Wabash Ave., Chicago. 



led Monthly : Subscription, f 3 00 per year. • January, 1888. 

Entered at SjTew York Post-office as second-class matter . 


WHY ARE 

THE MADAME MORA’S CORSETS 



A MAKVEI^ OP COMFORT AAD EEECAIVCE? 


Try and you will Find 

WHY they need no breaking in, but feel easy at once. 
WHY they are liked by Ladies of full figure. 

WHY they do not break down over llie liips, and 

WHY the celebrated Frencli eurved band prevents any 
•wrinkling or stretching at the sides. 

WHY dressmakers dcl’ght in fitting dresses over them. 

WHY merchants say they give better satisfaction than any others 
WHY they take pains to recommend them. 


Their popularity has induced many imitations, which are frauds, hiffh at 
any price, liny only the genuine, stamped Madame Mora's*. Sold by all 
leading Dealers with this 


GUARANTEE: 


that if not perfectly satisfactory unon trial the money will be refunded. 
L KRAUS &. CO., Manufacturers, Birmingham, Conn. 


Severed ■ 
At Gettysburg 


BY 

• Miss mAc. KELLER. 


(Copyright 1887, by J. S. Ogilvib & Co.) 



r. S. OGILVIE & COMPANY, 
57 Rose Street, New York. 




0 


r 


f 


t.iXviaiHajo XI X hha umoiozm '^a x .moom ;a-.D -taoD 
" , :mv ya - ■'- 

mad'd-E .D'eM '* • 



i ^ 

» » 

•> r>‘ 


TO MY FRIENDS, 

Cols. C. H. MOORE, J. A. BUCKNER and J. G. OLDFIELD, 

BY THE AUTHOR, 


M. C. KELLER, 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


CHAPTER I. 

It was a sky-blue, golden November day and the 
Gulf waters sparkled under the brilliant sunlight and 
broke in foam-crested circles over the silvered sands. 
Sea-gulls rode the tops of the waves and a distant sail 
floated dreamily along as if sweeping the clear, azure 
sky. A stately residence was built up on the elevated 
slope of the beach. It was an old Queen Anne style of 
architecture, and the many points of its roof could be 
seen through the autumn-hued foliage of the giant trees 
surrounding it. A flock of blackbirds held mad carnival 
in a huge pecan tree ; under it stood two boys looking 
up through the thick russet leaves falling in a shower, 
and listening to the merry bird chatter. These youths 
were half-brothers. Fath er and mother sat on the wide 
shaded terrace watching them. The father’s face was 
stern and troubled. 

Mary, I fear evil will yet fall on your boy 
Hiram. He is the worst boy I ever knew; the 
most incorrigible stern-willed piece of humanity I ever 
tried to control.” 

I think you judge him wrongly. You are too 
severe.” 

Too severe ! Impossible, if I did not rule the boy 
with a red-hot iron the rascal would run everything off 
of the plantation, and me, he would hurry in a lively 
trot, Two days ago he was in the blacksmith’s shop. 


6 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURO. 


and as usual, the meddlesome scamp got in the way. 
Harrison commanded him to leave, the boy refused. 
Harrison sent up to the house for me ; I reached the 
shop just in time to see him grin at me and Harrison, 
rush through the back-door and^ave for parts un- 
known. That night he and his chum Meredith 
Legrange, entered the shop, built up a huge fire, bent 
all the saw-teeth, doubled every tool that could be 
crooked and played the mischief by going into the 
church and scaring the negroes nearly to death. The 
church is near the shop, and during the services the 
negroes became alarmed at the hammering, thundering 
and terrific roaring, when suddenly the shop door flew 
open and congregation, minister and all swear, out 
rushed Satan with fiery horns, long tail, cloven feet and 
flaming pitchfork, followed by an imp accoutered like 
himself. No sooner did Satan and his partner enter the 
church door, than every negro, yelling and frightened 
half to death, left through cracks, doors and windows. 
The cloven-feet hemmed two old sisters in a corner and 
this morning I thought we would have a funeral.^* 

“ He is full of mischief, but he intends no evil.” 

“He is full of Satan, and will some day land in 
purgatory,” said the old gentleman with an awful 
scowl. “He is a tyrant over the other chil- 
dren and keeps them continually fighting. I 
built that room out there in the corner of the 
yard and ordered him to stay in it. Last night 
about midnight I heard Henry and John screaming 
so loudly that I got up to learn the cause. I could 
find neither shoes, nor pants, cursed all the dogs in 
creation, when I thought of Hiram and felt certain that 
he was the thief. I wrapped a blanket round me and 
went up stairs, but the simpletons became more 
frightened on seeing me^ and I had to return, I went 


SETVrEHEb AT GETTYSBURG. 1 

to Hiram’s room, found the door locked and he snoring 
like a thunder-storm. I threatened to split the door 
open and then he answered. 

‘“I demand what you have been doing to your 
brothers.’ 

‘ Nothing ; ghosts got after them I expect.’ 

He is the worst rascal outside of the penitentiaries.” 

‘^You do not understand my boy ; you do not give 
him the kind of correction his nature requires to develop 
his nobler qualities. He has a strong, dominant, pug- 
nacious, yet truthful nature. Your severity continually 
rouses his combative propensities, and by constant 
exercise they will become more pofverful than his 
gentler qualities. You do him injustice.” 

Do I ? Well, look under that pecan tree, and see 
for yourself. I will whip him this night.” 

The mother saw Henry stretched on the ground ; 
and when they reached the spot, he crept up, hair, 
face and clothes covered in sand. Crying and stam- 
mering he complained : 

Father, Hiram knocked me down.” 

‘‘What for?” 

“Nothing.” 

“ Father, he took my pecans while I was up the 
tree, and when I came down he would not divide with 
me. I knocked him down, but did not hurt him, for 
the sand is soft. You know he is a girl-boy, and a 
cry-baby.” 

“ Never mind, you rascal. I will whip you soundly 
this night,” said the old gentleman, furiously, as he 
sprang toward his step-son. But Hiram, being an 
active boy, eluded the iron hands, and ran off with 
deer-like fleetness. 

That night he crept into his mother’s bedroom. A 
shaded lamp burned on a table drawn to the bedside. 


8 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


There lay an open Bible, stained with tears. The dim 
mellow light fell on the patient, noble features. He 
loved his mother to idolatry ; she was the only living 
creature that understood his complex nature. He 
knelt at her side, bowed his face upon his hands, and 
his tears flowed long and freely; then a calm stole 
over him, and he prayed : 

Oh God, take care of mother while her boy is 
absent.” 

He rose, gazed tenderly into her loved face, stooped, 
pressed his lips lightly to her brow, and was gone. 
Gone ; yes, forever ; mother and son met no more on 
earth. 

Our acts here are fetters, which chain us in eternity; 
too frequently our deeds spring impulsively from the 
training we have received in youth. Home should be 
the place to build character strong and noble ; to for- 
tify man with stern principles to resist evil. Each 
nature should receive training appropriate to its pe- 
culiar individuality, and parents often ignorantly per- 
vert the original traits forming the character of their 
children, as with these two boys, giving wrong dis- 
cipline. 

Henry’s unformed character was innately weak; 
this frailty was increased by being pampered, and 
defended as one would an infant. He should have been 
made to combat for himself, thereby exercising his 
deflcient faculties they would have become strong. 
A like law of development runs through morals as 
through physiology. A frail body can be strengthened 
by regular and appropriate exercise, until its power 
will be sufficient to wrestle with wind and storm. 
Similarly suitable exercise will develop deficient facul- 
ties until the character becomes manly. Severity had 
almost culminated the stern will of Hiram McPherson 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


9 


into ol5stinacy. Patient, loving* gentleness would have 
softened the hard elements of his nature, and in this 
boy it would have developed a world of tenderness. 
Thus, home is too frequently a weak builder, a charac- 
ter destroyer. 


CHAPTER II. 

Meredith, no good will come from this marriage.’’ 

** How do you know ? When were you gifted with 
prescience, to see the battle-field of my wedded life 
rush red on your sight ? Lochiel-like, I do not heed 
your warning.” 

A dark scowl of impatient, intolerant annoyance 
swept over the handsome and character-marked face 
of Meredith Legrange. 

I know it is useless to remonstrate with you, for 
your gneiss-like determination gives your nature the 
hardness of granite. All the powers of earth and 
heaven could not change your resolution to marry this 
woman ; still I warn you, neither good nor happiness 
will result from this loveless union. Boy, ambition 
will strand you on the barren and rock-bound coast of 
desolate wretchedness. It will sweep you, a restless 
mariner. Over Time’s boundless ocean ; with hurrying 
feet it will rush old age upon you, and ere you have 
reached manhood’s prime, it will have made you a toil- 
spent, storm-driven man. Inordinate ambition will 
bring no man happiness. Meredith, you cannot deceive 
me. I am sure you feel no love for the Washington 
belle you are going to marry.” 

The speaker paused and a pained expression crept 


10 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 

over his grave features. His brother, Meredith 
Legrange, sat writing before a desk, and with the 
cool, nonchalant air of a man of thirty, he laid down 
his pen, leaned back, fastening the stud in his sleeve. 
He looked straight into his brother’s eyes. 

“ Not for empires would I trj;" to deceive you. I do 
not love the woman I shall this evening marry ; and 
I have the satisfaction of knowing that neither does 
she love me.” 

Satisfaction I Meredith, some day you will curse 
this madness, for a deed in which passion rules, and 
reason takes no part, is surely a mad one. Satisfac- 
tion, oh boy ! do not speak ironically.” 

‘^1 am deeply in earnest; if she loved me, how in 
honor, could I marry her,, giving her no love in return. 
The bargain is equal, therefore I feel no conscientious 
scruples.” 

With the coolness of a Wall-street speculator, he re- 
sumed writing. 

Why is she willing?” 

I do not know her motive in marrying me. I have 
conversed with her about ten minutes. All the busi- 
ness was arranged between her father and me;” 

A slight shoulder shrug and he continued : 

‘^As well ask a butterfly, why it flits in the sun- 
shine, or a fleecy cloud why it floats dreamily beneath 
the stars, as to require reason of a woman for any- 
thing she does. Her motive is about as constant as 
the summer breeze that wafts the thistle down, and as 
firm as ocean reeds washed upon sands. 

^‘And you?” 

am selling myself, not for her father’s millions 
but the prestige of his name. It will be the basing 
step to the throne I see,” 

'‘That will be?’^ 


SEVEREb AT GETTYSfelTRG. ll 

'‘Power ! Power that when I lift my hand nations 
shall tremble, not secure in their might. Power ! 
that when I raise my voice, not only America, but 
empires, kingdoms, and worlds shall hold their breath 
in listening awe . ” 

He sprang from his chair and hurriedly tramped the 
floor. His face was no longer still with that immut- 
able calm that Greek sculptors gave to the faces of 
Destiny and the god Demeter, but burned with an in- 
tensity which bespoke repressed and concentered pas- 
sions. 

“ Oh Meredith ! Meredith ! I charge you fling away 
ambition ; by that sin fell the angels, and how can man, 
the image of his Maker, hope to win by it ? The high- 
est angel changed Heaven for hell ; transformed him- 
self from a brilliant cherub into an ebon demon.’’ 

‘‘Yet that same devil tells us, ‘ it is better to reign 
in hell than serve in Heaven.’ He tried both places. 
Do not fear, brother ! Life at best is plastic clay, 
pliable to be moulded as we will.” 

The older man’s face was reflected in the sunset 
shadows that fell through the tall windows. It wore 
an expression of bitter disappointment, and his voice 
had the ring of keen pain — pain for one he would have 
died to save. He leaned against a tall alabaster urn, 
and for a time buried his face in his hands. His heart 
ached with pain and agony. When he lifted his head, 
his voice was solemn and mournful. 

“ Meredith, after you have trod all the paths of 
glorj^, sounded all the shoals and depths of honor, 
what will it profit you ? An old man, broken by the 
storms of state, time will lend you years upon years, 
they will become burdensome, brother; oh burden- 
some and barren as a rock-bound desert.” 

“Nonsense! I tell you, men sometimes are masters 


12 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


of their fate, dear brother ; it is not in our stars, but in 
ourselves if we are underlings.” 

When too late you will learn that ambition brings 
not contentment ; ambition brings not happiness, am- 
bition brings not our earthly Eden home. Happiness 
and contentment come from the strangling of our 
baser propensities, and the exaltation and develop- 
ment of our higher and nobler, until the faithful dis- 
charge of the laws of duty and morality become our 
every desire, our every rule of action. Then comes ^ a 
peace above all earthly dignities, a still and quiet con- 
science.’ Inordinate ambition builds not our terres- 
trial paradise home — home in its complete, deep sense; 
neither the marble palace, nor the lowly hut which 
shelters us, is home unless sanctified by the holj^ 
chrism of love. Brother, there is no greater blessing 
on earth than the strong, steady, crystal love of a 
Christian wife. Your house, then, is your temple 
where dwell honor, purity and godliness ; your 
hearthstone is your altar, whence harmonious devotion 
of wife and husband ascend an acceptable offering to 
God. Without this love marriage is sinful, and God 
will not bless what is unholy. Woman’s pure love is 
man’s aegis against the temptations and evils of life. 
It is an alchemist that converts his sorrows into pleas- 
ure, his sufferings into happiness ; it hallows his life, 
and makes it better and nobler. When man constantly 
yields to his lower impulses, they grow strong by 
their continual exercise, and finally master the moral 
man. Woman’s ungodly hands are powerful to drag 
him downward to this corrupt existence ; he lives sub- 
ject to his brute nature, and like other animals at 
death, there is no divinity left to remain immortal. By 
persistently using his moral faculties they overrule, 
at last annihilate the degradation of his mental and 


SJiVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 13 

t)hysical organization, and man stands spiritual, lofty, 
and Godlike. If your wife’s soul is in harmony with 
yours, her prescient intuition reads your spiritual 
necessities, your sublime aspirations, and by the purity 
of her nature she helps to supply these desires and re- 
quirements, and thus the fire of sublimity burns out 
the lower propensities. A noble, crystal-souled wife 
aids man to immortality, to the eternities of heavep. 
and God. Marriage is a holy sacrament for this pur- 
pose. It is a powerful factor in man’s life, and this eve- 
ning you will make for yourself either heaven or hell.” 

Legrange threw himself into a chair, drooped his 
head on one hand and with the other making an im- 
patient gesture replied: 

‘‘ Brother, have mercy ! Let my past remain buried. 
Oh, the height and depth and vastness with which I 
once loved ; its intensity was a sweet delirium, an in- 
toxication of madness and in my passionate pressure 
my idol of crystal crumbled to clay.” 

Bitter memories made his features rigid and the 
agony of those recollections wrought an eternity of 
moments. Geologists do not calculate age by the 
rushing of Time’s swift wings, but the convulsions and 
cataclysms that have changed, and scarred the old 
face of earth. So with some human lives, grown aged 
like Lear, from the intensity of cyclone minutes. 

‘‘I shall never love but her; and her love will never 
hallow my life, and I shall use marriage for my ad- 
vancement as I would any other speculation.” 

His tones had the ring of defiance as if he challenged 
angels and men to thwart his purpose. 

There is nothing honorable in such a marriage, and 
before I would barter myself, I would serve all my 
( days and nights as a slave chained in the blackest 
dungeonV” 


14 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Swift as a darting arrow Legrange sprang to his 
feet ; his eyes flashed, then the fire died out leaving the 
face deadly white. 

Were yon not my brother, I would shoot you dead 
for those words. The privilege of a brother may be 
trespassed.’’ 

The voice of Lucius Legrange quivered with pain as 
he replied : 

It were poor friendship, that feared to risk a man’s 
anger to render him a service. Yon can shoot when 
you please, but the bond of brotherhood is sacred in 
my hands, neither will your threats prevent me from 
doing my duty.” 

The face of Meredith Legrange softened, and re- 
membrances of his brother’s tender devotion swung 
him round, and with the warmth of an impulsive, 
generous nature he faced his brother and in tones of 
agony said . 

“ God knows I have done you the foulest injustice 
man ever did to man, or even devil to devil, lashed you 
with the scorpion sting of an ingrate. Can you 
forgive me?” 

Freely, as I hope God will some day forgive me.” 

Their hands closed in a firmer grasp than that of 
David and Jonathan. 

‘‘ Meredith, can nothing prevent this marriage ? ” 

For an instant there was no reply, then slowly but 
resolutely he answered : 

‘‘ Nothing ; but death. ” 

Boy ! boy ! Your blind obstinacy will wreck 
you ; a man less cool, less keen, less confidently non- 
chalant of all danger, might even now take warning. 
One careless, over confldent stroke of the chisel may 
mar the whole statue of — Life — which you, in your 
proud, conscious power, deem obedient to every cut of 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


15 


the chisel. Meredith, you may round your statue into 
sublime proportions, but there is a higher sculptor that 
shapes our ' destinies, rough hew them as we may.’ 
I know you think to endow it with the strength of the 
Milo, the glory of the Belvedere, the winged brilliance 
of the Perseus, but this day’s work will ruin and 
deface the whole. You will learn that self-reliance, 
and confidence only in human genius, will not shape 
life into harmonious beauty, grandeur or perfection. 
From utter inability your hands will grow paralyzed 
and powerless. And Life will stand before you a 
mutilated Torso ; a fragment broken and unfinished ; 
food for ants and worms ; buried in sands that will 
soon suck it from sight or memory, with but touches 
of glory and value left here and there showing what, 
under wisdom’s guidance, it might have been.” 

“ You grow eloquent, brother mine ; but I shall erect 
my life, like unto a proud Babylonian palace, its walls 
of white marble from the purest quarries ; a Parian 
chef-doeuvre of elegance and human power ; — an un- 
rivalled Moti Masjid in its matchless purity and 
grandeur. ” 

‘‘ But in it there will be no warm hearthstones, no 
richly tinted, memorial pictures ; no loving hearts and 
caressing hands; its walls will be unadorned, its 
hearth covered in ashes of loneliness, and its halls so 
glitteringly cold and empty that the echo of your own 
footsteps will sound as the distant, mocking laugh of 
a demon, that tempted you and now riots in your mis- 
ery. Ah, boy I when that day comes, as come it will, 
when all men shall have failed you, and even the 
structure of your proud omnipotence shall have been 
washed away by one sweep of the veering winds, one 
rush of life’s ocean-tide, then turn to the brother who 
would have saved you at the cost of his own life. I 


16 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa 

shall not be here to see the wreck, the end; the Sailor^ s 
Home leaves at six; I must go.’’ 

Will you not remain and attend my marriage ?” 

ISTo. I have no desire to witness the burial of much 
that is now noble in your nature. Under an Indian 
clime our lives will soon be far sundered; though my 
work is humbler I trust you will ever remember the 
brother who has loved you all his life. Good-bye, and 
God bless you, brother.” 

Tightly their hands were clasped ; Lucius Legrange 
stooped and kissed the brow of his brother, then was 
gone. He was a missionary to India, and sailed that 
evening on the out-going steamer — Sailor’s Home, 


CHAPTER in. 

The fading sunlight fell across the cold sculptured 
face of Meredith Legrange, as his head rested on his 
arm. His countenance was sad to sternness. On it a 
physiognomist would have gazed enrapturedly and 
wonderingly. It was strong with intellectual and 
moral superiority ; and only the science of phrenology 
could penetrate the complex, intricate capacities and 
propensities of his powerful character. Science would 
find no weakness ; but a man of strength, will, force, in 
morality and intelligence. Firmness and sublimity 
were elements of power in his nature. A painter would 
have loved this face, for its magnificent features, 
sharply chiseled; indexing the volcanic force of Angelo, 
with the delicacy of Shelley and spirituality of Raphael. 
His hair, a silky, chestnut brown, clustered in rings^ 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBUEG. 


11 


around a "brow, high, extremely broad and full, giving 
even to the most inexperienced reader of human nature 
the idea of massive solidity. Ej^es, that made one think 
of Caesar’s Cassius ; far-reaching — steel grey and 
piercing. Now the long, raven lashes were lifted and 
as the sunset glories fell into the clear depths of the 
eloquent eyes, in them burned a slumbering fire that 
the great Roman saw in the eyes of Cassius and called 
dangerous. His thin lips told decision ; surely he could 
be wielded as easily as a block of marble could be melted 
by a moonbeam. An hour later he paused in front of 
the marble palace, the bridal gift of his destined wife. 
The stylobate began at the low iron fence, and ascended 
in regular steps until it reached the wide columned 
galleries. There were double rows of columns extend- 
ing around the building. Those near the inner walls 
were Grecian Ionic ; the base of each was a huge 
winged dragon chained with sculptured cords 
like the sandals of a woman, while the shafts 
were channelled or fiuted to resemble the folds 
of female garments. The top or capital of each 
column wa^ woman’s head with the volutes like hair 
hanging from each side of her face. Each wore a 
wreath of exquisitely sculptured leaves, tendrils of 
honeysuckle and lotus lily buds, used so much by the 
ancient Greek architects. Nothing in Persian, Corin- 
thian, Doric or Greek architecture ever rivaled the 
massive grandeur of these Caryatides columns ; not 
even those of the only existing example of the Cary- 
atic order, the triple temple in the Athenian Acropolis. 
Patrician W'ashington had gathered to witness the 
nuptial of its society queen. And as Meredith Le- 
grange passed through the broad, marble hall his eyes 
wandered downward through the blaze, of light, the 
wilderness of scarlet clustered roses that twined 


18 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


gleaming walls, and trailed through alabaster-like 
railing, so exquisitely carved as to resemble delicate 
lace work. Onward his gaze wandered along the 
whole line of the double marble stairs with their broad 
crimson carpeting winding into the depths of the hall ; 
at the farthest end the luster of two giant candelabra 
fell over the white chiseled limbs of large Greek gods 
that supported them. Meredith Legrange, who had 
served as private secretary to the United States min- 
ister to the court of France, had frequented the splen- 
dors of Versailles, St. Cloud and the Louvre, but none 
of those Parisian palaces exce.:ded the royal magnifi- 
cence of this. The walls of the entire structure were 
exquisitely carved. He was conducted to the bridal 
chamber, and stood at the side of the patrician em- 
press he would soon endow with the sacred name — wife. 
She was many years his senior, tall and divinely fair. 
He a mere youth. He conducted her to the crowded 
banquet room, where were assembled President Lin- 
coln and his family, his cabinet and their families ; 
senators, congressmen and many others of American 
royalty. Greek architecture is distinguished^ for noth- 
ing more than the beauty and delicacy of its mould- 
ings ; and here one found all the exquisite purity and 
classic grandeur of antique Hellenas. The light to 
this central apartment was admitted only through 
double screens of white marble trellis work of the most 
exquisite design, one on the outer and one on the inner 
face of the walls. In our climate this would seem to 
produce nearly complete darkness, but in a building 
composed of white marble with Greek statues here and 
there holding upward silver lamps, this was required 
to temper the glare which otherwise would have 
been intolerable. As it is, no words can express the 
chastened beauty of that bridal chamber, seen in the 


SEVERED AT aETTYSBUR^. 19 

soft gloom of the subdued light which reaches it 
through the distant and half-closed openings that sur- 
rounded it. There in that great throng, in the solemn 
hush of the marble room, two strangers uttered vows 
that chained each to the other, either in the bonds of 
happiness or misery. Could it be those of happiness 
with no love existing between them ? Each marrying 
the other through motives of self-interest known only 
to himself and herself. Verily, self-interest moves 
humanity to most of its acts from king to beggar ; 
history, hieroglyphics, and tradition repeat the same 
story, old as humanity itself. Human creatures are 
not all selfish ; for across the Atlantic, where its waves 
washed English shores another wedding took place. 
Here were no splendors save those of nature. True 
love bound them, nothing more, and defying human 
power to sever them they had fled to this woodland 
seclusion. It was June and evening. The long shadows 
stole through the trunks of the trees, lengthening in 
bands of gold over dark green mosses and rustling 
grasses, on whose tops the spider wove his webs of 
amber threads in the western sun. Nothing broke 
the deep stillness save the calling of the sea in its low, 
musical monologue, and the long, weird tree-song of a 
katydid that rang through all the dusky, hushed 
forest. The golden day stole onward, the shadows 
lengthened, the birds sought their roost, and the 
fawns their couches ; the peace of evening brooded on 
earth, and outstretched her wings over the sea. All 
nature rested ; and there, in that solemn prayer of 
earth and sea, two more of God’s creatures bound 
their destinies together. Nature knelt at her evening 
prayers, and chanted her vesper as sanction to this 
strange nuptial. 

The groom, tall, erect and kingly in appearance ; 


so SEVERED AT GETTYSBURd. 

the bride almost a child, her face had the ethereal 
beauty of Raphael’s Madonna. The features were 
fair, and exquisitely shaped, eyes large, dark and 
eloquent ; mouth and nose perfect both in form and 
expression. The whole face of singular patience, 
purity and unquestioning truthfulness, and rigid 
fidelity. A countenance that told, to the acute phj^si- 
ognomist, strong character elements, that slumbered 
until opportunity and necessity called them into action. 
Circumstances build one-half of the man, and inborn 
traits the other. Often circumstances are the stronger 
and they drive the man ; sometimes character masters 
them, and it brings man victor off the Marengo fields 
of life. 

The minister pronounced them man and wife, two 
witnesses signed the license and then the bride and 
groom were left alone. 

Mes fres, on the whole this is a strange life. Ah, 
those destinies, those unseen hands hammering away 
on the anvil of life ; forging links that chain human 
lives together in an unconscious destiny. Here were 
four individuals who, at different times, had come 
upon the theater of action ; two in the center of an 
American capital and two in the deep stillness of a far 
European woodland — widely sundered — but the chain 
was forged and stretched across ocean and continent 
and linked these lives. Hiram McPherson clasped the 
young wife closely to him ; they stood sheltered under 
a giant oak, and the fair, youthful face lifted upward 
to him was darkened by the shadows thrown over it 
by the wide thickly foliaged branches. She gazed into 
his eyes and leaned her lovely head against him while 
his clasp tightened to the pressure of a steel rivet, 
and as he bent his kingly head, and pressed his lips to 
hers passionately, he murmured ; 


AT GETTYSBtTR(^; 


SI 

My darling ! my idol ! my life V* 

Where they stood one lingering ray of light from 
the lingering sunset clouds, fell through the flickering 
leaves and stole over the radiantly hapny face in its 
purity and trust. Tenderly the love that kindled her 
soul, shone in her eyes, and closer she nestled to him 
as he whispered — 

‘‘ Murillo, my precious wife.’’ 

Words of love that have been on many a human lip 
and have cursed more lives than they ever blessed. 


CHAPTER IV. 

It was the 21st of July, 1861. Where are now the 
soldiers who on the day fought the memorable battle 
of Manassas ? scattered ; but they remember the awful 
scene, the first battle of the great rebellion. It was 
three days after the fight at Bull Run, and the right 
wing of the Union army rushed down upon the Con- 
federates like a horde of infuriated beasts, while the 
Southern braves met the vast army with the fierceness 
of mad lions. It was a scene of terrible sublimity to 
the spectators who had come from Washington to wit- 
ness the downfall of the Confederacy in its first 
resistance. One whipping of the rebels would teach 
them the folly of opposing the powerful Union armies. 
The tramp of thousands, the shriek and groans of dy- 
ing, the clash of steel, the boom of artillery, and the 
awful roar of a great battle shook the earth from the 
Potomac to the Blue Ridge. Ever in the hottest br- 
ing were Lee and Jackson, braving death as if it had 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

no power to kill ; seeing liis brave band almost crushed 
and routed, in trumpet tones, rising above the roar 
and storm of battle, Lee shouted : 

‘‘ See Jackson stand like a stonewall.” 

It was inspiration, for there stood this noble bri- 
gade, square, solid, invincible as the Macedonian pha- 
lanx until the danger was checked by Gen. Early, and 
reinforcements of Gen. J. E. Johnston ; and the vast 
Union armies fled in wild havoc and disorder. In this 
stonewall, near to this commander fought Hiram 
McPherson ; no demon, no tiger ever rivaled the fear- 
less bravery of this man. Close to him was a delicate, 
fair curled, dark-eyed boy, who fought with the calm, 
recklessness of a Leonidas-commanded Spartan at the 
passage of Thermopylae. His daring made him the 
army’s idol. That night when the battle was over, 
the 3mung boy lay on the hard ground, under the 
violet skies, and Hiram McPherson tenderly guarded 
the dreaming youth. 

The victory of Manassas rendered the South ex- 
ultant, and enraged the North, while it heightened its 
resolution. There was no longer any dream of termi- 
nating the war in a three months’ campaign. Many 
Southerners had been nurtured in Babylonian opulence; 
but Sardanapalus-like they had sprung from a noble 
ancestral line and wrong roused them from a slumber- 
ing, but great manhood, to fight for their rights or 
die. 

After Manassas, Lincoln reinforced his army with 
half a million men and five million dollars. Against 
this immense army the small Confederate forces stood 
like the three hundred Spartans, opposed to the vast 
resources and millions of the Persian king. Here the 
parallel ceases, for among the Southern braves there 
was no traitor. The hope of the Confederacy lay in 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


23 


the possession of Richmond, and for its retention the 
2brmy defending it was strongly fortified and reinforced. 
It was joined hy Gen. Stonewall Jackson after a series 
of rapid movements, and brilliant successes which 
were among the most striking operations of the war. 
It was Stonewairs solid front that constantly repelled 
the enemy ; it was Jackson’s tigers that terrified the 
Union’s bravest. He had been employed in the 
Valley of Virginia, where he was threatened by three 
converging columns : — by Banks from Winchester, 
by Fremont from West Virginia, and by McDowell 
from Fredericksburg. Jackson checked Fremont 
and turned against Banks and drove him down the 
Valley, then forced him out of Winchester and 
across the Potomac. Retracing his steps he gave 
a second check to Fremont and next day at Port 
Republic, routed Gen. Shields who had been detached 
against him by McDowell. By these successes he pre- 
vented Banks and Fremont from infiuencing approach- 
ing events, and McDowell from uniting with McClel- 
lan, while he was himself enabled to strengthen Lee. 
It was the night previous to the Seven Days’ Battle.” 
The soldiers wrapped in their blankets lay on the 
ground, while the stars up in purple skies kept watch 
while the armies were sleeping.” It was a solemn 
hush on the eve of carnage and death ; camp fires were 
smouldering, and in their dull, red glow, the forms and 
features of Southern soldiers looked hard and stern. 
Around these fires a few sat in dumb stillness, an 
awful hush hung over the slumbering world, for old 
Blue-light was going to pray.” A little apart from his 
soldiers, under the shadow of a tree, knelt Jackson 
praying, and uis tigers knew that ere dawn he and 
they wc’Jild be together in the jaws of death. His 
prayer ended and he passed along the file of sleeping 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBUR^S. 


U 

warriors ; they were dear to their chief, and tears dim- 
med his eyes as he gazed over them and thought of the 
thousands for whom it would he their last sleep on 
earth ; to-morrow many would rest in eternity. 

\ It brought hot, unbidden tears to the eyes of the 
grand old hero. He stood by the youthful form of 
McPherson’s brother. The daring bravery of the 
handsome boy had frequently attracted the attention of 
Stonewall, and to-night, as the golden stars shone upon 
the boyish features, Jackson murmured : 

\ Some mother’s darling is slumbering here.” 

I With his arm thrown across the boy, lay the brave 
soldier McPherson, until dawn of day with its cannon’s 
roar roused them from their sleep and the ** Seven 
Days’ Battle ” raged in all its fury. Gen. J. E. B. 
Stuart, the most dashing, fearless officer of the Con- 
federate cavalry, made a cavalry reconnoissance 
completely round the Union army, and his most 
devil-dare horseman was Meredith Legrange. The 
days were spent in desperate struggle, but resulted in a 
Confederate victory. Kichmond was relieved. The 
Federal attack had utterly failed. In the six weeks 
ensuing President Lincoln ordered a new levy of six 
hundred thousand men, and appointed Gen. Halleck 
commander-in-chief, in place of McClellan. During 
the same anxious period he sought to distract thq 
South by proposing the emancipation of the slaves, 
with the payment of an arbitrary price for them. In 
the third j^ear of the rebellion, the Army of the 
Potomac ” numbered one hundred and thirty thousand 
men. To furnish this many the South had robbed 
cradle and grave.” Lee’s force was little more than 
one-third as many. Hooker dispatched Gen. Sedgwick 
to watch, and to threaten the Confederates’ right at 
Fredericksburg while he moved up the Rappahannock 


I 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


2S 

with the main body. Hooker crossed the river, and 
took up a fortified position at Chancellorsville. Gen. 
Jackson marched with a large part of the Confederate 
army from its extreme right, across the front of the 
whole Federal army, turned Hooker’s flank and 
suddenly crushed his right wing. Where Jackson and 
his lions went there was victory. Night settled down, 
a heavy darkness enveloped friend and enemy. Jackson 
was preparing to push the great advantage he had 
gained. Hiram McPherson and his soldier boy stood 
sentinel : through inky blackness they saw a moving 
object; the armies were encamped closely together; 
nearer it came and almost breathlessly McPherson 
whispered : 

‘‘ Hist I an enemy comes, obey Jackson’s order and 
fire.” 

The sharp quick report of rifles told that they were 
fired almost simultaneously, and the object fell, and 
Jackson their hero, their idol, lay mortally wounded. 
McPherson knelt, raised the head, and even in the 
darkness of night knew that the noble, stern features 
were growing rigid in death. Words cannot tell the 
height, and depth and vastness of McPherson’s un- 
utterable grief ; he gnashed his teeth in bitter anguish, 
threw himself beside the dying chief and twined his 
arms around the stately form. 

Oh my God, I have killed Jackson, the hope of the 
South.” 

The great Ruler of destinies ; the Controller of cir- 
cumstances, loosened the reins of accident that night 
and made His darkness fight agdhst the South. Eight 
days later when the grand old warrior died the young 
Confederacy died ; when a wailing South buried their 
chief, it was laid in the Southern hero’s grave. And 
the South mourned the death of its redeemer. 


26 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBUM. 


The Federal and Confederate armies stumbled upon 
each other at Gettysburg* and the fiercest, the most 
obstinate, and the bloodiest battle of the war. occurred. 
Side by side fought McPherson and his soldier boy. 
Lee, the fearless, led them iu the hottest of the struggle. 
His trumpet tones thrilled them and with calm, un- 
flinching courage, thousands stiffened on the field of 
death. The enemy were driven back, a piece of artil- 
lery was surrounded by them ; pointing to it Lee 
shouted : 

‘^Follow me, my braves,’’ and they moved not until 
their yells of Lee to the rear, Lee to the rear,” were 
obeyed. Then steadily with the courage of lions, they 
rushed into the open mouths of booming cannons. 
Thousands fell, but the artillery was taken and the life 
of their commander preserved. They would die, but he 
must live. It was a stubborn conflict, it raged in all its 
desperate fury. Every roar of cannon leveled myriads, 
the gap was filled by their comrades, and when the 
guns boomed again, they too were shot down. Six 
color bearers were successively killed. The banner was 
trampled in the gore of its late holders. Pointing to it 
Lee shouted : 

Kaise the banner.” 

For a moment they quailed, for it was certain death. 
Then McPherson waved it*aloft, rent and blood-dyed, 
and he too was instantly shot ; and his comrade boy 
raised it to be almost instantly felled. The battle of 
Gettysburg was the turning event of the war. The 
Confederates who fell there were never replaced. The 
brave soldier-boy was fearfully wounded, while a crim- 
son tide poured from McPherson’s wound. A soldier 
brother bent above them, and in tones of deep agony 
McPherson pleaded : 

‘‘ Oh God ! Lawrence shield my idol’s life, she is 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. ‘ 27 

your sister and my wife ; take her in safety from this 
battlefield, and save her young life.’’ 

And you,” Lawrence asked, taking the frail un- 
conscious form in his arms. 

Will die, but save her,” he gasped. 

And that evening at set of sun, when she was car- 
ried from the battle-field of Gettysburg their lives 
were severed, forever and forever. 


CHAPTER V. 

The first task of President Johnson’s administration 
was to seize and bring to justice the murderer of 
President Lincoln, and those who had attempted to 
murder Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State. J. 
Wilkes Booth, a fanatical actor, was the assassin of 
Mr. Lincoln. He refused to surrender and was shot 
down. Powell, Atzeroth, the innocent Mrs. Surratt, and 
others were tried by a Military Court, condemned and 
hanged. The assassination of Lincoln was a horrible 
deed, but the deliberate cold-blooded condemnation and 
murder of Mrs. Surratt, an innocent woman hanged on 
suspicion, was the most cowardly, dastardly act that 
ever disgraced the records of any nation. The 
stabbing of Lincoln, by a heated fanatic, was honorable 
compared to this cold, deliberate murder of a suspi- 
cioned but innocent woman. It was a short time before 
her execution. Meredith Legrange stood in his 
library, leaning against a statue of Caesar, and the 
sculptured features of the great Dictator of Rome 
spoke no more forcibly of decision, firmness, and the 


28 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. ' 


dominant will of a powerful genius than did the clear- 
cut ones of Legrange. His head drooped and he 
seemed in deep reflection. Like Home’s Imperator, his 
personal appearance was nohle and commanding. 
Intellectually he was distinguished for extraordinary 
ability, concentrated into the genius of a great states- 
man, law-giver, mathemetician and orator; he too 
possessed the fearlessness of a grand, moral character, 
and as Shakespeare said of Caesar, he would become 

The foremost man of all the world.” 

Until now his years of wedded life had been spent 
in camps and battle-flelds of the Confederacy. Those 
of his wife, in Europe, at court palaces. She had 
recently returned after years of absence. In their 
marriage contract, they mutually stipulated that each 
should exercise no control over the other. 

He lifted his head and looked through the open door 
across the broad marble hall ; it was separated from the 
rotunda by large Corinthian columns ; and the scarlet 
velvet curtains gleamed against their marble white- 
ness. This evening their heavy, classic folds were 
looped back and revealed the palatial parlors filled 
with the aristocracy of Washington ; senators, a dip- 
lomatic corps, the President, his cabinet, and several 
distinguish ex-foreigners. His wife stood in the 
center of a brilliant' group : she was elegantly dressed, 
and superbly handsome, an empress in society, whose 
slightest caprice passed as a social mandate, to be 
expected by her circle of courtiers. She was regally 
beautiful to-night; the sceptered monarch over the 
world of fashion. Legrange watched her perfect ele- 
gance, and thought he had never seen a human coun- 
tenance so beautiful as the woman he called wife. It 
was the beauty of chiseled marble, without the radi- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


29 


ance of an indwelling soul ; rigid, freezing, selfish, and 
soulless. During the years of their union he had held 
no intercourse with her ; such were her stipulations, 
and strictly he kept them. He had been contented, 
and even now he felt no jealousy for the favored men 
surrounding her. They received her smiles, but he en- 
vied them not. Entirely, they were strangers; and 
were they satisfied ? She was. Watching her in that 
glittering throng, he knew that no thought of him dis- 
turbed her happiness ; she was a great belle, and play- 
ed with men as empirically, as heartlessly as a tiger 
does with the prey beneath its claws. Standing there, 
watching this assemblage of patricians, and his wife 
the most brilliant of all, his lips curled with a sneer. 
It was winter and a bitter cold night ; outside on the 
broad marble gallery crouched a wee, frail child. Only 
a little street waif who, attracted by the glittering 
lights, glowing fires that flickered here and there on 
some delicate bit of statuary or jeweled Celini cup, 
stooped and gazed through the tall glass- windows that 
reached to the floor. She shivered, and her teeth chat- 
tered, for the keen, cutting north wind pierced her thin 
clothing, and she drew it tighter around her; and 
crouched more closely against the sculptured wall. 
Meredith Legrange closed his door behind him and 
walked down the wide marble hall, with its crimson car- 
pets, exotics, statues, bronzes and Ionic carved walls, 
gleaming under the radiance of silver lamps held up- 
ward by tall Greek gods. The little waif crouched in 
the shadows of giant columns, her head pillowed on a 
chiseled base. He stood within two feet of her, and looked 
upon the thin childish features— she was asleep ; the 
deadening sleep of insensibility that steals over those 
who freeze to death. Her rest was painless, and peace- 
fully she seemed dreaming of the angels that guarded 


30 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


her. She was their child, and in pitying tenderness 
they watched over the little outcast who had no other 
friends. Legrange bent closely over her, and the 
delicate face was stamped with holy innocence, a 
shadow cast by angel wings during childhood’s purity; 
but each feature was sharpened by the cutting chisels 
of sufferings, hunger, and the struggles of life ere her 
baby-feet had crossed its portals. A softened expres- 
sion stole over the stern features of Legrange, and he 
took the frail body in his arms. 

** Good evening, Meredith I What have you there ?” 

He turned to the speaker. 

‘‘ Good evening. Judge Black. I have found only a 
little street waif, sleeping here on my steps.” 

He threw up the window and entered his warm 
library and laid her upon a lounge before the fire. 

Judge Black entered and lowered the sash. 

Legrange, you are a strange man.” 

Why, because you find in me a spark of humanity ?” 

‘‘The world would not believe that you are capable 
of such tenderness to only a little beggar.” 

“ Beggar and millionaire are alike to me, in cases of 
suffering.” 

‘ ‘ But the world regards you somewhat as a machine, 
that grinds out justice, but little mercy and no tender- 
ness.” 

“To it possibly I am.” 

“ If so, it is because you have not shown the other 
Lycurgus part of your nature ; the world has seen only 
the rigid sternness of the lawgiver, and believes that as 
the old Spartan gave his life for his country, so would 
you.” 

“Charmed with the beauty and greatness of his 
political establishment, he was next desirous to make 
it immortal, so far as huuian wisdom could effect it, 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


31 


and with the pledge from his countrymen never to 
change his laws until his return. Lycurgus died. 
Aristocrates, the son of Hipparchus, relates that the 
friends of Lycurgus, with whom he sojourned just be- 
fore he died in Crete, burned his body and at his request 
threw his ashes into the sea. Lycurgus died to 
perpetuate his laws, and to redeem his country. You, 
blaspheme the great Spartan, and exaggerate my 
greatness. In his life’s field, his grandeur and power 
ripened, be harvested them and died. I have just 
begun work in mine, and as yet have done little for my 
co-laborers ; and fear that I could never be Lycurgus 
enough to persuade myself that even the very death of 
lawgivers should have its use. But, sir, I would make 
each man know that he was born not only to serve self 
but his country and fellow-creatures. I would com- 
plete the conquest of luxury, abolish monopolies, and 
exterminate an inordinate desire for riches. This is 
what corrupts both the social and political world ; and 
finally digs a nation’s grave. I would have men live for 
something higher, something more nobler than the 
mere accumulation of wealth and the gratification of 
selfish desires, and in the world’s broad field the shocks 
of beggar and prince should stand parallel and equal.” 

My dear Meredith, to do this I fear you would have 
to cremate us all and out of the purified ashes of 
charred humanity evolve a nobler generation. Even 
then there would come the reign of an .^gis wherein 
a Lysander would fill your country with money and its 
inseparable attendant, avarice.” 

Legrange, come to the Club with me.” 

Why do you hurry ; sit longer.” 

‘‘ Ho, thanks, I dropped in for only a moment. What 
will you do with your little waif ? ” 

‘‘ She will sleep there until I return.” 


SEVERED AT GETTOSBURG. 

Do you intend keeping her.” 

« I do.” 

You know nothing of her parentage ?” 

‘‘Not a thing.” 

“ Well, I am sure you intend charity, but you may 
regret the adoption, when too late.” 

Meredith Legrange, looked down upon the poorly 
but cleanly dressed child, and scrutinized the wan 
delicate face. 

“ Degradation never wore that look of innocence ; so 
she is pure, shall we outcast her, because, maychance, 
her parents were criminals ? Never, but there is no- 
bility in her veins.” 

“ Legrange, I hear that you have volunteered your 
services in the defense of Mrs. Surratt ; is it true ?” 

“ It is.” 

“ Your rashness may kill you ; the excitement and 
rage against her are wrought up to fever intensity. 
You know that soldiers have been ordered South ; the 
country will be subject to military control, and several 
men have already been shot because they openly 
rejoiced that Lincoln was assassinated. Justice was 
killed when the South surrendered ; honor was laid in 
the grave too. If God Almighty would come from 
heaven and swear to Holt and the United States 
Judges that Mrs. Surratt is guiltless, they would prove 
Him a liar and conspirator, and hang Mrs. Surratt, 
though they know her innocent. Take warning ; God 
could not save her from the malignity of these un- 
principled devils. You can do her no good, but ruin 
yourself.” 

Legrange walked the floor of his library, his hands 
gripped behind, his lips curled with an unutterable 
scorn ; his whole countenance spoke defiance and the 
fearlessness of an enraged tiger 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 3B 

Black, I have stood face to face with the open 
mouth of roaring cannon, on many a southern battle- 
field ; I periled life for my country because her rights 
were trampled. I would sacrifice a million lives in 
the cause of this woman, because she is innocent and 
powerless. I will defend her though it wrecks my 
chances of success even throughout eternity; I will 
defend her though every cannon and gun in the 
United States is leveled upon me. I will denounce 
Holt as an unprincipled dastard, scoundrel and 
coward, if I am shot while doing it.’’ 

And he did. On the last day of her trial, the court 
room was packed, the vast building thronged, while 
thousands and thousands scrambled for standing 
room outside. A seething, boiling mass of enraged, 
vindictive, malignant humanity confronted him ; but 
he scorned and defied them with an intolerable con- 
tempt and righteous, furious, madness. There were 
the strong elements of brave, heroic justice, of fear- 
less grandeur in the Cause of truth, of a moral sub- 
limity that held this mass silently wonder struck. 
And Mark Antony never lashed a clamorous Roman 
populace and denounced the assassins of Caesar, with 
greater eloquence and a more indignant fury than 
did Legrange this mob howling for the murder of an 
innocent and helpless woman. He spoke long, and 
his argument for her innocence was unanswerable; 
many were convinced but cowardice held them silent ; 
reason demanded her acquittal, but fear, of personal 
danger made them neutral ; the forcible truth of his 
argument carried conviction to many, but to no por- 
pose. He uttered polished, bitter, scathing sentences 
against the human wretches who raged for her mur- 
der; cold, cutting as gleaming steel, which called 
down the roar and storm of human fury, but above 


84 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


the thunder of that maddened crowd his voice rose 
clear, strong and fearless : 

Americans, countrymen, enemies, lend me your 
ea-rs. I must denounce and not praise you ; I cannot 
praise that man who clamors for the blood of an inno- 
cent woman. Even among savages, man was ever 
known to defend helpless woman ; and I tell you down 
in the blackest depths of hell there is no fiend who 
would stain his demon character with so malignant 
and cowardly a crime. Yet you are honorable men.’’ 

An avalanche of hisses drowned his voice, and again 
the roar of the storm swept down. He stood quietly ; 
one hand behind him, the other stretched over the rag- 
ing populace, his pale intellectual face and flashing 
eye gleamed with lion fearlessness. With superhuman 
strength his thunder tones rose, clear above the cyclone 
fury, and again they were lashed into silence. 

The evil that men do lives after them, and the 
death of this guiltless woman, will brand your brows 
with the mark of Cain, and call upon you the avenging 
wrath of the God of justice ; it will brand your genera- 
tions of unborn offsprings as the children of a woman 
murderer. Yet you are honorable men. The noble 
Holt has told you that she is guilty ; he swears her 
guilty without proof ; suspicion is sufidcient, for she is 
a helpless woman ; if she were guilty, it were a terrible 
crime and grievously will she answer it ; but Holt is 
an honorable man, and I speak not to disprove what 
the honorable gentleman spoke, but am here to speak 
what I know though you stab me ere I finish.” 

His eyes flashed with intolerable scorn ; and again 
he continued. 

You demand her death because she is suspicioned ; 
you suspicion her because assassins took rooms in her 
boarding house ; why not suspicion every proprietor 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


35 


where they ever lodged ? Americans, I would grip the 
hand of Satan in the warm clasp of trust and friend- 
ship, sooner than I would touch the bloody hands of 
honorable men who have murdered a helpless woman, 
because she is thus suspicioned. O, justice, thou hast 
fled to brutish beasts I and men have lost their reason. 
O, humanity, if I could stir one throb of pitying justice 
in thy granite hearts, it would do Holt wrong, and John- 
son wrong, who you all know are honorable men. I 
will not do them wrong ; I rather choose to wrong the 
guiltless, to wrong myself and you than wrong such 
honorable men. The bright sun circles onward in his 
trackless immensity, and even among men of dungeon 
barbarity he shines upon no such cowardly crime. 
Look at her pale, tear-stained face, stamped with 
the marks of innocence and agony, and know that 
your vile suspicion has stabbed her. I tell you if the 
South was not in thraldom, her chivalric honor would 
demand justice from your hands reeking with the 
pure blood of helpless innocence ; but her rivetted 
chains bind her in a despicable serfdom, more honor- 
able than stained honor soaking in a woman’s humane 
gore.” 

The rumbling of a fearful storm burst into loud hur- 
ricane fury. Calmly as chiseled granite he stood, and 
his eagle eye flashed lightning scorn. When the 
hisses and roar had died down, he reitera4}ed the same 
statement in calm, undaunted tones, which again call- 
ed down the tempest ; when it ceased he uttered it a 
third time ; there were fewer hisses, when they ceased 
lie uttered it again, and his tones shook with the ring 
of defiance, and none replied. If ever an audience wa? 
flayed alive, if ever a sweeping storm was quelled, i^ 
ever a furious populace were lashed like culprits, for 
their brutal injustice, then and there it was done.' 


36 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


There was a deep stillness like that which follows a 
fearful storm. He continued : 

‘^0, my countrymen! I beseech you dishonor not 
the name of our common father, Washington ; dis- 
honor not the name of our common country, America ; 
dishonor not the name of your children, brand therrA 
not with the stain, — son of the murderer of an inn^' 
cent, helpless woman.' 


CHAPTER VI. 

Legrange had been absent from his home for several 
days, and under the pressure of great events he had 
lost recollection of the little waif sheltered in his lib- 
rary. That evening, as he was pushing his way 
through the dense throng in the rotunda of the Capitol 
he was compelled to pause near the statue of Aaron 
Burr; with no effort or intention to hear what was said 
about him, these words he heard distinctly. 

‘‘Legrange is an able man; very able; principles 
pure as ice, and hard as steel.” 

“ Yes, such true steel as to escape corrosion. He is 
the only politician I know who is incorruptible ; the 
wonder is, he was not stoned during his memorable 
defense of that poor woman.” 

“It is indeed. He is certainly fearless. He is 
young, and I believe he will, in timej eclipse every 
prominent statesman America ever had, and his 
name will stand in American history as does Cato’s in 
Roman, grand, honorable, endowed with almost 
boundless genius. I tell you, Merril, I honor the man 
who can stand alone in the cause of right, alone at the 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


87 


risk of his life, pure and unbribed in this age of polit- 
ical corruption. For eloquence he surpasses Cicero, or 
even Greek oratory.” 

“ In his party he is very imperious.” 

‘‘But it is the imperiousness of grand principles; 
the imperiousness of honor so great that before he 
would yield to wrong, he would die in the cause of 
justice.” 

“ He was certainly born to rule men ; for no other 
man in America could have stilled and lashed that 
howling multitude as he did. Cato’s lines fit Legrange 
exactly. I would rather have my good actions go un- 
rewarded, than my bad ones unpunished.” 

“ He takes his wife’s infidelities very lightly.” 

“ I believe it is mutually understood that neither is 
to worry the other with affection or attentions.” 

“ She is no more fit to be the wife of such a man than 
I am to be the husband of an angel. He is far her 
superior even in moral character.” 

Legrange moved to see the speakers; his blood 
boiled, the woman he called wife should be honored. 
But the throng bore him onward, until he liberat- 
ed himself from it near the south entrance. That 
night, on reaching home, he found his little waif gone; 
he rang the bell, and inquired of the servant that 
answered : 

“ Henry, what became of the little child I left in my 
library ?” 

“ Mrs. Legrange made Samuel turn her outdoors; it 
was bitter cold, and the little thing looked so lonesome 
and pitiable out on the great, broad avenue, with the 
snow drifting down upon her. I watched her from the 
window, and soon it completely covered her; she pulled 
her thin garments more closely to her, and her littlo 
bare feet became purpled with cpld/’ 


38 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


How did Mrs. Legrange know of the child being 
in my library 

She slept a long time after you left ; when she 
roused I was in the library; she seemed bewildered 
and delighted, the music entranced her, the door 
leading into the hall was open, and she wandered into 
it. She went to the rotunda, leaned against one of the 
columns, and stood spellbound. Mrs. Legrange saw 
her, and ordered Samuel to put the beggar out on the 
street. Madam went into a high passion at the little 
tramp’s being in her palatial residence. She scored all 
the servants roundly. None knew how she came to be 
in the house.” 

‘‘ Why did you let her leave the library ?” 

‘‘ I thought it would delight madam and her guests 
to see the little creature, for she was clean, and the 
most beautiful angel out of heaven. I thought it 
would give them pleasure to behold anything so won- 
derfully lovely.” 

Your experiment failed,” replied Legrange with 
bitter irony. “ You do not know what became of the 
child ?” 

‘‘No, sir.” 

“ Go and inquire of the policeman on this beat. 
Describe the child to him, and tell him that Legrange 
will pay any reward he requires.” 

Left alone he walked the floor of his elegant room. 
He stepped upon something, picked up a small locket, 
inside was the face of a young girl about seventeen, 
but wondrously like unto the little waif’s— noble and 
beautiful beyond description. He sat down before his 
desk, and gazed spellbound into the girlish counte- 
nance ; he recognized those features, imperious, pure 
and soul-thrilling. That face with its Raphael beauty 
and tenderness ; how he had worshipped and lost it. IJe 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


30 


had seen it years ago in the palace of the Louvre 
while he was private secretary to America’s French 
minister. He gazed at it and his thoughts became 
deeply, intensely concentrated upon past events that 
had revolutionized his life. And he murmured : 

** God pity us both and pity us all 
Who vainly the dreams of youth recall, 

For all sad words of tongue or pen 
The saddest are these it might have been. 

Ah well, for us all some sweet hope lies 
Deeply buried from human eyes, 

And, in the hereafter, angels may 
Roll the stone from it away.*’ 

None watching that stern, haughty face, could 
have told that his thoughts were painful ; so calm and 
motionless were his imperious, clear-cut features. 
His head drooped on his hands and for hours he 
remained deadly still. Life seemed stagnant, as a 
ship after swift sailing from favorable ocean winds, 
sweeps into that equatorial calm-belt, where her sails 
drop into an awful stillness and the quiet of death has 
anchored her. At midnight he placed the miniature 
securely in his desk, locked the latter, rose and wearily 
tramped the length of his library. After a time he 
paused and looked through the open doorway, down 
at the termination of the hall into a magnificent 
rotunda, filled with bronzes, marble statues, gold and 
silver ornaments. A patrician throng had just quitted 
this banquet room, the chandeliers still burned bril- 
liantly, but their splendor flashed brilliantly upon 
costly art productions and his wife standing alone. 
She seemed expectantly waiting for some one. He 
approached, but his footsteps over the crimson velvet 
made no sound. She leaned against a tall chair, 


40 SEVERED AT GETTYSBUR(^. 

I 

before a glowing grate and gazed into the burning 
coals. He stood within a few feet, unobserved, and for 
minutes scanned her features. Long practice enabled 
him to read correctly human character. As if con- 
scious of his piercing eyes, she looked up and sur- 
prised annoyance blanched her face. He spoke care- 
lessly : 

‘‘Madam, pardon this plainly unwelcome intru- 
sion.’’ 

For a moment she did not reply, but scrutinizing 
his face and form keenly and curiously. Then with a 
scornful derisive laugh, she bowed low and ceremoni- 
ously. 

Legrange held out his hand. 

“ If there exists no affection between us, at least let 
there be friendship.” 

Calmly and sneeringly she replied. 

“ No, sir ; with me there are no mediums ; most pos- 
itively I do not desire even your friendship.” 

His hand dropped and coldly came his answer : 

“ Ever since your return from Europe, I have 
sought a conversation with you ; and sought it vainly. 
Will you grant it now ?” 

She threw her head back with a mocking laugh. 

“ Ha I ha ! you become fatigued with your own stip- 
ulations. Sir, remember, there was to be no division 
of my scepter, and I still desire it undivided. Two 
tyrants cannot reign in the same realm. Be warned 
from the fates of Dionysius and Icetes.” 

“ An ominous metaphor truly ; but I cannot com- 
plain since the character of these tyrants were almost 
equally odious, and in your Athenian justice you fit 
one to yourself.” 

“You forget that Dionysius trusted Icetes, who be-r 
trayed the former and usurped his kingdom. The 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


41 


character of Icetes— the traitor — sir, to me, is greatly 
more odious.” 

Ah ! You are a genuine Athenian Madam, with 
little of the Aristides. Do you forget that Plutarch 
relates that these tyrants, to whom your keen insight 
likens us unto, were dethroned ? their royal palace de- 
molished ? In our lives, madam, who is to play the 
part of Timoleon ? Have you in reserve some fawn- 
ing, cringing sycophant to personate the noble Corin- 
thian ?” 

His tones were bitterly sarcastic. Her face turned 
pallid, but she made no reply, and he continued : 

Madam, I desire no division of your petty frivolous 
world ; my realm is boundless, and satisfies my high- 
est ambition. Will you listen to what I wish to say ? 
It concerns you and me.” 

His tones were imperiously haughty. 

Must I remind you the terms of our contract ?” 
she asked, while her features grew paler. 

I know them, madam, and once more state that 
they shall be rigidly adhered to. From my control 
you are free.” 

^‘And you will keep them, just as if we were not 
married ?” 

^ ^Married, indeed ! A profanation of the sacred 
institution. Rather a legal speculation, in which each 
staked life-happiness, to bring in the dividend of grati- 
fied, self-hidden motives. Yours I never conjectured, 
but mine failed utterly.” 

She laughed scornfully. 

Your bondage becomes oppressive, and you regret 
your slavedom.” 

Will you listen, madam.” 

"'Howl Impossible. I have an engagement. Ah! 
here comes my escort.” She passed him and joined a 


42 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


tall, fair complexioned, elegant looking foreigner. He 
heard her merry tones as they descended the steps and 
entered a carriage and drove away. Legrange stood 
alone and ground his teeth with rage. His thoughts 
were not of statecraft and through set teeth he 
muttered : 

Great God, these married belles ! What a wreck 
she will make of my — ’’and he paused as if he dreaded 
the sound of his own thoughts. Oh ! ambition what a 
stony flint-faced idol you are.” 

The rashness and fire of youth have burned low ; and 
manhood’s calm prescient eyes saw domestic happiness 
a charred and blackened ruin, cast into a consuming 
furnace by the impetuosity of youth. He entered his 
library, closed the door behind him and sat long in the 
shrouding darkness, musing over past years, and his 
thoughts lingered tenderly around one bright picture 
in the dark, backward stretch. A noble, sweet face 
looked at him from out of the darkness. Ah, hoAV he 
had loved and lost it. He sat ther e with no thought of 
the shadows gathering in life’s pathway, no re- 
membrance or consciousness of the silent flight of the 
raven- winged hours. From the gray ruins of memory 
a thousand echoes rang back the hopes that had once 
sounded, over the sea of his jmung life, in blessed 
chimes pure and sweet ; now they moaned off in the 
distance like hollow dismal echoes dying, dying, dying. 
He lifted his head and across the street, in the garret 
of a poor wretch he saw a dim light glimmer ; he could 
see the thin toil-spent body bending over its work ; and 
he muttered : 

‘‘ There is the wretchedness of poverty ; here the 
gilded misery of Wealth. Old man, I shall relieve yours, 
but who will relieve mine ? I will find her child and give 
i. a father’s shielding love,’’ 


43 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


CHAPTER VII. 

Guido, such are the decrees of the eldest of the 
three Moirai. But the gloom of the cellar begets a 
glory of which the brilliance of the palace, the splen- 
dor and glitter of courts never dream.’’ 

Sir, what good does this glory avail our dead and 
whitening bones ? it serves only to render them more 
ghastly, for it never comes until after death. Does 
that marble monumental pile over John Howard Payne 
satisfy the hunger and wretchedness he suffered. This 
glory after you are dead does not alleviate the starv- 
ing desolation of life.” 

The speaker was a boy whose head had the ethereal 
grandeur of Michael Angelo’s cherubs ; the features 
were beautiful and thinned by suffering to attenuation ; 
the eyes very large, dark, and filled with a yearning 
sadness ; the mouth and whole countenance eloquent 
with an expression of patient, uncomplaining endur- 
ance. The room was a garret in Washington. 

‘‘ True, Guido ; but you have yet to learn the wis- 
dom which the ages have gathered ; patience, boy ! 
genius always starves while she toils; she begs bread 
of humanity, it gives stones ; but should we expect 
more of the Pascal than what was ever measured out 
to the masters of old ? Our lives are wretched, but 
none are exempt. Clotho of the distaff, as the threads 
fall from the spindle, slipping surely through the fing- 
ers, spins the cords of each mortal’s life, and weaves 
dark threads side by side with the silver strands.” 

He was a man feeble and time-broken from the 
storms and sufferings of life. On Cannae fields of 


44 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

wretchedness he had become scarred and seamed by 
the steel-cuts of bitter foes — poverty, disappointments, 
and agony. 

The room was very bare; a MS. lay on a rickety 
table, a battered piano stood in one corner. 

‘ ‘ Into some lives she makes the warp of golden 
threads and the woof of silver ones ; it is all brilliant 
and beautiful.” 

No, no, Guido ; they are there ; parallel with the 
bright ones run the hard, dark lines twisted rigidly 
firm by Lachesis. The Greeks knew this to be fatally 
true. They gathered the truths of time and be- 
queathed them to us.” 

His sad, eloquent eyes looked westward where the 
sun was sinking behind crimson clouds and golden bars. 

‘ ‘ Courage, courage, Guido ; get strength from the 
old masters ; let us rise above self and from our suffer- 
ings, give birth to a nobleness of character, hard, en- 
during, sublime ; a patient, grand example for coming 
generations. Love your art, and courageously toil be- 
cause you love it.” 

He put his thin, emaciated fingers tenderly on the 
boy’s dropped head. 

Sir, it is because I worship my art so devoutly that 
I am miserable; my soul is burdened with lofty aspir- 
ations that the wretched circumstances of my life 
strangle at their creation.” 

‘‘ Is your father still ? ” 

Oh God, hush ! the very stones may have ears.” 

His thin features became ghastly ; and in low tones 
he continued : 

‘‘ My life can never be. anything, save the degra- 
dation so truthfully depicted in Dante’s Inferno. You 
were never there, and you cannot conceive of its awful 
horrors. Sometimes life becomes almost too weary to 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


45 


drag on its existence* The few moments I spend here, 
are my only pleasure and they are shadowed.’’ 

Child, there are few lives so wretched that they 
could not become more desolate. I have worked many 
years in garrets utterly alone until you and our little 
Murillo came into it. Friends, I possessed none. In 
the heart of large cities I lived and worked utterly 
alone with thousands moving around me on the great 
sea of life, and now as I look backward over the wide, 
barren stretch I see the dark spot named regret* Boy, 
wait until regret creeps into your life and then you will 
feel sorrow ; wait until the golden fruit of Paradise is 
within your grasp, you clutch it ; into dust it crumbles, 
and its ashes of bitterness are between your teeth. 
This is the agony old as time, the first man arid woman 
felt it and unto this day humanity still feels it.” 

Those two ?” asked Guido; but for all reply, a 
slow, mournful bending of the head, and Guido watch- 
ing the pale, intellectual face knew that his ^Gips 
were closed like the gates of some majestic temple, 
not for concealment, but because that within is holy.” 
Wearily Marcus Lawrence walked the barefioor; his 
thoughts seemed wandering among some gloomy, 
half-buried crypt, wherein memory saw all the beau- 
ty and gladness of a life entonibed. Over his trem- 
bling lips drifted a fragment ; 

‘‘It might have been, but these are common words, 

And yet they make the sum of life’s bewailing ; 

They are the echoes of those finer chords 
Whose voice we deplore when unavailing. 

Life knoweth no hke misery, the rest 

Are single sorrows ; but in this are blended 

All sweet emotions that disturb the breast 
The light that once was loveliest is dead. 


46 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


** Henceforth how much of the full heart be 

A sealed book, at whose contents we tremble ; 

A still voice mutters ’mid our misery 
The worst to bear, because it must dissemble.” 

For a time the lips were motionless and again he 
spoke : 

Guido, we have no time to waste in useless repin- 
ing ; too soon will the silver cord be loosened, the gold- 
en bowl be broken ; the pitcher broken by the fountain; 
the wheel broken by the cistern ; and whether crowned 
or crownless when we fall what does it matter so our 
life work be finished ? Let us so perfectly live that 
when dead those who know us will say, ‘here lies foun- 
dered the wreck of the noblest man who wrestled 
with the tides of time.’ Turn to your instrument and 
play, Guido; it always strengthens me to labor.” 

Music sublime as Beethoven ever dreamed, or grand- 
ly sweet as Pasta ever sang, came from the deep soul- 
thrilling touch of the beautiful boy. His genius placed 
him among the wonders of the nineteenth century; 
from almost infancy music had been his passionate de- 
light. A little waif wandering through the streets of 
large cities, he had crouched at cathedral doors drink- 
ing in the solemn sweet roll of the Tantum Ergo. 
How it had thrilled his soul, and now thinking of those 
hours, his hands wandered over the keys, while the 
chords swelled into the sad harmony of the sublime 
Sacramental Hymn. Marcus Lawrence paused in his 
writing and gazed upon the inspired face of the boy. 
His hunger, his sufferings were all gone, and a divine 
radiance lit up his countenance and charged, and 
thrilled his soul. Here he was no beggar, and his 
genius gave him such rapture as mere luxury?- can 
never bestow. The last grand swell, rolled through 
the room, and Lawrence stood by the boy. 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 47 

** Guido, your genius, beyond doubt, will make you 
honored among nations.” 

A warm flush lingered over his radiant face ; genius 
had kindled her fire and his noble features quivered 
from the heat of its intensity. 

** Ah, sir I If I could place my name side by side with 
my great master’s I would not mind the suffering.” 

‘‘You will; and your sufferings are the furnace 
through what it is necessary for your genius to pass, 
that it may burn most brilliantly.” 

“Sir, it seems like presumption in me to think I 
may equal my great master Beethoven, who is in music 
what Shakespeare is in poetry, a name before the 
greatness of which all other names, however great, 
seem to dwindle. He stands at the end of an epoch 
in musical history, marking its climax.” 

“ But, at the same time, his works have ushered in a 
new phase of progress, from which everything that is 
great in modern music has taken its rise. And al- 
though Beethoven is the most ideal artist in that most 
ideal of arts — music — he is always inspired by the 
deepest sense of truth and reality.” 

“ A paradox, which if applied to other things, the 
world would not believe.” 

“True, it is the idealist that people look upon as 
half-witted and unreal ; but a Cassius observer flnds 
that it is often the actions of the realist which are fre- 
quently the most unnatural. The volcanic intensity of 
his materialistic nature, rushes his untempered pas- 
sions into unnatural deeds. The nature of the idealist 
is modifled, softened by his aspirations for the beauti- 
ful, and sublime ; his passions are quieted and balanced 
by the spirituality that lifts him above material things ; 
the ethereality that carries him near to the throne of 
God,” 


48 


severed AT GETTYSBURG 


For a time deep silence fell between them, and the 
boy’s fingers touched the keys with the same grand 
note of sadness, that waits through Beethoven’s 
compositions and is the reverberation of personal suf- 
fering. The prophet’s cloak seemed to rest on the 
shoulders of the young cripple. 

Ah, Guido, Beethoven’s compositions are bitter 
fruits of thought and sorrow, the results of a passion- 
ate but conscious strife for ideal aims. Sufferings sub- 
limated his genius, and through sorrow he reached a 
greatness never approached by his predecessors or fol- 
lowers. Courage, courage, Guido ; like him are you 
not willing to endure wretchedness, if through it you 
can ennoble coming generations ? Boy, the highest life 
is to labor patiently for the advancement of the intel- 
lectual and moral natures of man. Then mind makes 
a victory over matter, genius triumphs over circum- 
stances.” 

The words seemed to deeply impress the boy, but 
after a time he replied : 

If the sufferings of Beethoven further sublimated 
his efforts as an artist they poignantly intensified his 
bitterness as a man.” 

But how grand is, on the other hand, the spectacle 
of an artist deprived of all intercourse with what in 
this world was dearest, and yet pouring forth the 
lonely aspirations of his soul in works all the more 
sublime as we seem to hear in them the voice of the 
innermost spirit of mankind, inaudible to the keen ears 
of other mortals. Guido, genius must suffer ; it is an 
exaction made of her, and one she should be willing to 
give, in return for the power of ennobling humanity. 
So I live to accomplish some good, let come the agonies, 
storms and hurricanes of life. ’ ’ 

His eyes were filled with a strange eloq^uence, an<^ his 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


49 


face spoke of a mind bent on things eternal. His life 
had been one of long enduring toil, without recom- 
pense or recognition. 

Out on the evening air, far above the din of thunder- 
ing steam presses, silencing the rumbling of cars, and 
the vreary, ceaseless tramp of tired feet, the many 
sounds of a great city that mingle into one long, con- 
tinued boom from the dawn of one day to the close of 
another rose grand, majestic and sublime, the shouts 
of a great multitude; each cheer rising louder and 
stronger as the boom of waves in an ocean storm. 

What means that?” asked Lawrence. 

great man is addressing the people,” replied 
Guido, looking out of the window. 

I wonder if Murillo is secure with the old woman 
down stairs.” 

Yes, indeed, the old creature idolizes the little 
thing. Still Murillo steals away from her frequently. 
The other night she was lost, and the old creature was 
almost frenzied with grief, and though feeble, searched 
until she found her. I knew nothing of my child’s ab- 
sence until they returned. I hear her little feet patter- 
ing up the stairs now ; her mother was the most fear- 
less woman that ever lived, and Murillo inherits her 
bravery.” 

Come, kiss me little pet, and tell me what you 
have been doing since I came to see you last week.” 

She climbed into Guido’s arms and nestled her baby- 
sweet face against his shoulder. 

Listen, Guido, you never heard mortal man talk 
like him.” Lawrence had opened the garret window 
and could hear distinctly, though the orator was at 
some distance from them. Meredith Legrange stood 
on the broad base of a statue several feet above a dense^ 
packed multitude. 


50 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

They are going to hang that poor woman, and even 
to the last hour he is striving to save her. I was in 
the court room the day he made his great defense ; 
and the frenzied daughter, on bending knees prayed, 
that she be allowed to suffer instead of her mother. 
Sir, it was the most heartrending scene one ever 
witnessed.’^ 

Hush, listen to his fiery denunciation of her mur- 
derers. I wonder he is not mobbed by that thunder- 
ing, deafening mass, surrounding him like a pack 
of starving wolves.’’ 

‘‘He is bravery itself; his moral sublimity awes 
them, binds them in subjection, but he cannot save 
the doomed, innocent victim. Tigers thirst for her 
blood.” 

“Look how the sunlight throws his features and 
figures out into noble, bold relief. A model fit for 
the chisel of Michael Angelo.” 

In the west the sun was an incandescent, furnace 
of liquid, flowing gold ; and offerings to the sun-god 
on western altars, burned beneath his sacrificial 
fires. A blinding, blazing glare fell across the silent 
multitude and kindled as with burning flames the 
face of the great statesman. The superb stateli- 
ness of his form was thrown into bold proportions 
by the bronze statue towering behind him ; it served 
as a rich, dark, Rembrandtesque or Velasquez back- 
ground. A deadening roar went up, as if to rend 
the roof of heaven ; a moment he stood motionless, 
then stretched his hand over the seething throng, 
and a deep silence fell upon it. 

Marcus Lawrence leaned his head out of the 
window. 

“Listen, Guido,” he said eagerly. 

Again Legrange spoke, and the fire of his elcb 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


51 


^Uence burned itself into the minds of this vast mul- 
titude, with the heat and force of raging flames. 

^^He has a glorious subject and his masterl3^ in- 
tellect defends it, like a champion gladiator who will 
die in the arena before he will betray or sacrifice one 
particle of its honor.’’ 

Under his chill and withering eloquence parties 
writhe; before his subtle and scathing wit opponents 
cower ; beneath the dominant persistence of his will 
wavering adherents bow; and before the profound 
mind of this great statesman men feel abashed, 
discomfited, despite of themselves.” 

There is something oddly pathetic, touchingly ma- 
jestic, almost sacred, in the sight of a seething sea of 
surging humanity. Meredith Legrange, standing a 
few feet above that dense, silent throng, felt the same 
solemn mournfulness as did the great Persian at gold- 
en Abydos, and it gave an impressive grandeur to his 
eloquence. 

'‘Guido, there is talent, and its success and hom- 
age are fit a god ; here is genius, and it starves 
in a garret ; and we will some day learn which will 
most ennoble the world.” 

"An eloquent statesman,” remarked Henry Winter 
Davis to Thaddeus Stevens. 

" I believe if Mrs. Surratt’s execution is deferred, his 
masterly brain will gain her pardon ; the President is 
wonderfully moved by this man’s speeches.” 

" His enemies are compelled to acknowledge that 
they have to contend with a great man. Eminent in 
statecraft, his astute, subtle intellect is formed to at- 
tain and wield ; and he knows just as well as did the 
Greek orators, that to become successful in politics is 
to sway the multitude. His eloquence will give him 
the mastery^ and Demosthenes never swayed an Athe- 


5 ^ 


SEVERED AT iGETTVSBtTR(^. 


nian crowd or Cicero a Roman senate as will this 
Southern diplomat. America will g*ive him hig-her 
honor than that ever won by the great Roman or mas- 
terly Greek. Though this throng will not now do 
what he tells them, each is enough Athenian to admire 
what he fails to practice. Legrange is a greater man 
than either Demosthenes or Cicero; he may not be an 
abler orator than were they, but as a man he has the 
hard, rigid courage of the old Roman, together with a 
natural truthfulness and pure nobility, that stand him 
out strong and bold above the cowardice of the Greek 
and the rhodomontade of the Roman.” 

‘‘ He will become world-wide famous if he does not 
have too much genius.” 

'‘And if he succeeds in getting that woman’s execu- 
tion delayed until the fever intensity of rage against 
her burns down, she will never be changed ; he has been 
closeted several times with the President, of coui^e for 
that purpose.” 

" How do you know ?” 

" I keep on his track ; for as Caesar said of Cassius, 
he thinks too much, his prominent and sharply cut 
features indicate midnight study ; he is dangerous, 
and no respite shall be granted that woman ; she shall 
hang innocent or guilty ; I would take the bloody’ head 
of every Southerner in atonement for Lincoln’s assas- 
sination.” 

There was no time granted to Mrs. Surratt; this 
Republican leader kept his threat and she Avas hanged 
— the most inhuman, cowardly, unjust deed in the 
book of time. 


BEVilRED AT GETTYSBURG. 




CHAPTER VIII. 

It was the height of the Washington season — city 
filled. In the palea ccbus microcosm of the great 
metropolis, the millionaire and entire patrician world 
held high carnival around their leader in her marble 
palace. The basilican-like hall with double rows of Co- 
rinthian columns, terminated into a marble rotunda ; 
this evening both were packed with patricians, none 
other could attend her teas. There were several 
metallic grates in this marble room, polished bright as 
gold, and their glowing flames threw a flickering ain- 
ber-hued light over sculptured Greek gods and gleam- 
ing walls of chiseled roses, half open buds, tendrils and 
leaves of lace-like delicacy. In front of each grate 
stood a group of revelers ; they had just quitted the 
dancing hall. To say that the belles were attired in 
velvets, silks of Oriental manufacture, laces, diamonds, 
pearls, rubies and other costly jewels would not ad- 
equately describe the elegance and splendor of their 
dresses. Mrs. Legrange, the hostess, was robed in 
soft, creamy lace for an overdress ; the draperies se- 
cured with sprays of pelargoniums made of rubies and 
diamonds. Legrange walked down the hall weary 
from a life of inflnite toil. For months he had vainl^^ 
sought a private conversation with her, but the per- 
sistence, with which she avoided him told beyond du- 
biety that she still desired him to be a stranger, and 
the manner in which she kept herself thronged with 
the fashion and wealth of Washington showed that the 
reins were not in neocratic hands. 


54 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


She stood gracefully leaning against a marble Niobej 
near her were several gentlemen, among them Le- 
grange noticed the same, tall, handsome foreigner to 
whom she seemed to have cast the palm. He bent to 
wards her in sycophantic admiration. 

‘‘You were born to rule men, and she of Egypt 
never had a more legal claim to the sovereignty than 
does our queen.” 

“ Hush ! flatterer,” she said, as she struck him a blow 
with her fragrant bouquet. For a moment it lingered 
his arm and he replied more cringingly : 

“ You forget that such accusation implies a contra- 
diction of your power.” 

“ True,” she replied, “ but look, one of our devotees 
seems inclined to desert our shrine and erect one for 
her own homage.” His eyes followed her glance 
across the room, where in front of the Are stood a fair 
and beautiful young girl, surrounded by a group of 
admiring gentlemen. She was exquisitely dressed, in 
delicate pink silk, with an overdress of soft, fern-like 
lace; its draperies were fastened with pearls and rubies. 
A fair, wax-complexioned blonde, in the perfect love- 
liness of an early girlhood. 

“ She is beautiful, but — ” 

Ettu Brutus ? ” she asked contemptuously. 

“ Is it not stronger proof of the absolute sovereignty 
of our matchless Troj^an, to have her sway contested 
by one who has some claims to it, and still unhesitat- 
ingly to have the golden apple cast to our peerless 
Helen ?” 

A smile of gratifled vanity curled her lips. From 
infancy she had been a beautiful, spoiled, pampered, 
caressed child of millionaires. Her caprices had ever 
been indulged even at the cost of extravagant waste- 
fulness. She had been fed on flattery, and a disgust- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


55 


ing, sycophant adulation from those of her patrician 
circle, until now it was the food of her moral existence; 
no loftier, ambitious and generous impulses stirred her 
stagnant nature. 

Duped by the insincerity of false men and envious 
ladies, she believed their flattery genuine admiration, 
and loved it as bees loved honey. For her life had been 
one long banquet of pleasure ; and epicurean like she 
had perverted her nature from its original nobility, 
and now could not become surfeited, but drank at the 
guild feast as deeply as ever ; drank eagerly of the 
golden Bragi-cup, and it was the Loki of her life that 
this goblet of vanity was kept filled to overflowing ; no 
faithful Sigyr stood by to dash the brimful goblet of 
poison from her thirsty lips. This leader of fashion, 
ruler of men, courted, caressed until she almost be- 
lieved herself one of ^sir, quaffed to the dregs this 
gilded poison to all that is pure and noble in womanly 
character. In the group surrouiiding her was one 
gentleman whose noble, sad face and the dignity of his 
general appearance marked him as being different from 
the others. He was tall and commanding and in im- 
pressive tones he addressed her. 

‘‘Madam, you talk of shrines and kingdoms, but 
tell me where it is that a true woman erects her altar ? 
On her own hearthstone from which ascends the purity 
of her nature as a lofty prayer to the great God of her 
adoration. Where is the realm of a noble woman ? 
Again I answer, her home circle ; a little kingdom with 
like laws that regulate the boundless government of 
heaven. Holland paints a most beautiful picture of a 
grand woman in this her empire. 

‘ She was my peer 

No weakling girl, who would surrender will, 

4ud life, and reason^ with her loving heart, 


56 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


To her possessor ; no soft, clinging thing 
Who would find breath alone within the arms 
Of a strong master ; and obediently 
Wait on his whims in slavish carefulness ; 

No fawning, cringing spaniel to attend 
His royal pleasure, and account herself 
Rewarded by his pats and pretty words. 

But a sound woman who with insight keen 
Had wrought a scheme of life and measures well 
Her wosmanhood ; had spread before her feet 
A fine philosophy to guide her steps ; 

Had won a faith to which her life was brought 
In strict adjustment — ^brain and heart meanwhile 
Working in conscious harmony and rhythm 
With the great scheme of God’s great universe 
On toward her being’s end.’ 

God pity the woman whose realm, whose home is 
the world, wherein she flits away her life as aimless- 
ly and as uselessly as a gaudy flaunting ephemeron ol‘ 
the tropics. God pity the woman whose altar is erect- 
ed for the worship of herself. She desecrates her 
sacred hearthstone, defiles the hallowed precincts of 
home and lays her womanly name low in the dust.” 

Her face became livid, he made her a courteous bow 
and left the banquet. From that moment she was his 
mortal enem3^ As he passed out Gen. Grant and Le- 
grange were standing together in the hall, near to a 
statue of CaBsar ; they were in close, earnest conver-'‘ 
sation. As he passed, Legrange looked up and their v 
eyes met in a steady, fixed gaze ; when he had quit the 
hall Legrange remarked : 

“ That man’s face is familiar, yet I cannot recall his 
name.” 

“ His name is McPherson,” replied Gen. Grant. 

Hiram McPherson ?” asked Legrange. 

Yes ; he is here on my invitation ; your wife had 
honored me with the privilege to invite my friend to 


BiJVfiREi) AT GETTVSBURG. 


57 


her reception. He was one of the bravest soldiers I 
ever knew.’’ 

A Union soldier?” 

Ho ; a Confederate. I have just succeeded in se- 
curing* his appointment as Chief of the Depart- 

ment ; I think he is now crushed with heavy losses and 
sorrows ; he seems deeply saddened.” 

know him well; we were friends in our child- 
hood.” 

A strange flashing light leapt into the eyes of Le- 
grange, and his features hardened and set in the rigid- 
ness of the great Koman’s. Gen. Grant noticed the 
change, but he could not fathom the cause. Our 
life is mystic, unfathomable.” 

Each heart has its cherished grave, in which are en- 
tombed hidden hopes, and for us all, there is a won- 
derful isle up the river of Time, and we bury our trea- 
sures there.” 

** There are fragments of song that nobody sings, 

And a part of an infant’s prayer, 

There’s a harp unswept, and a lute without strings. 
There are broken vows, and pieces of rings. 

And the garments that she used to wear.” 

They turned, entered the library and sat down ; in 
continuation of the conversation that had been inter- 
rupted, Gen. Grant remarked : 

Legrange, there can no longer be any doubt in re- 
gard to the President’s policy. He is holding out de- 
lusive hopes to the South, and if the South puts faith 
in them, and acts as he instructs, it will bring upon 
her calamities bitterer than those inflicted by the 
war. And he has entirely gone over to political enemies, 
whom he had fought for a lifetime. Can you trust a 
turncoat, a traitor to the i^arty and principles he once 


j 


58 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

supported ? I know he will use all the authority of his 
office to dissuade you Southerners from accepting the 
Amendment which the entire North has ratified. You 
forget that you have been conquered and are still 
at the mercy of the conquerors ; you forget — ” 

Gen. Grant, I do not forget that we have been 
overpowered by larger armies and richer resources, 
and are now trying to be trampled under the feet of 
scalawags who want to use the negro as an instrument 
through which to sink my country into a brutal, de- 
graded subjection. You ask can I put faith in a 
traitor ? I can, when he is a traitor from corruption to 
justice.” 

A seriousness settled more deeply upon Gen. Grant’s 
face, and with ardent impressiveness he replied : 

‘‘ Your keen statecraft caused me to believe that you 
would penetrate the President’s motives and thus help 
to save your country ; but human nature, circum- 
stanced as are you Southerners, can hardly be expect- 
ed to resist such overtures as his, to put aside the 
chance he offers of escaping the penalties they had ex- 
pected, and of obtaining the prize they had thought be- 
yond their reach. Johnson’s keen perception sees 
these facts, and he correctly reads human nature and 
the infiuence of circumstances upon it. This Machia- 
velli-like statecraft is what makes him dangerous to 
bhe Commonwealth’s prosperity. He sees that nature 
and circumstances of the South make it a fit instrument 
to work out his pernicious intentions. The rejection of 
the President’s plan of reconstructing the seceding 
States has been complete, and the Constitutional 
Amendment that Johnson opposed has been accepted 
by every Northern State, and a Congress antagonistic 
to the President’s views will be returned by an over- 
whelming majority. I would advise you to counsel 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


59 


your country against his ruinous policy. A ready sub- 
mission to this amendment for reconstruction will 
ameliorate her condition; among your countrjmien 
your advice will be that of a prophet’s.’’ 

I do not believe that the President will submit ; he 
has a nature that opposition aggravates to obstinacy ; 
he has undertaken an enterprise with patriotic motives, 
and I cannot counsel the South to turn against the 
man who is perilling his administration to help her. 
Gen. Grant, Republicanism in the South means the in- 
telligent and high principled in submission to igno- 
rant negro-rule at the instigation and scheming of vil- 
lainous carpet-baggers. Left to himself the negro and 
his former master would have no further difficulties ; 
but in the hands of scalawags, a horde of brutal beasts 
that never knew either honor or justice, the ignorant, 
superstitious negro becomes a sharp tool to cut out 
evil, dishonor and untold crimes. The honest white 
Southerner must protect his honor from the sting of 
this double-fanged viper ; the true Southerner has no 
choice ; your Constitutianal Amendment with its op- 
pressive injustice has driven him to the wall, and it is 
resist unto death or submit to a repulsive, barbarian 
rule of ignorance and superstition, intensified to vol- 
canic pressure by the sneaking, cunning scoundrelism 
of the dreg^ of the North. If Congress would make a 
law forcing villains to stay at their North, there would 
be no troubles at the South.” 

‘‘ Do you believe the entire North a set of rascals ?” 

No. I do know that many of your Northern men, 
who have settled in the South, are honorable and noble ; 
but, too, the scalawag, like the carrion bird, flocks to 
where lies the brave lion.” 

Your country can ameliorate her condition by sub- 
mitting to the inevitable. Johnson has appealed to the 


60 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


people, and he knows they oppose his plan of recon- 
struction ; and he will refuse to abide by their decision. 
This will result in open and violent war between him 
and Congress ; he will antagonize the political friends 
who have placed him where he is ; he cannot succeed 
with the entire North against him, and if the South 
clings to his tottering fortunes, it will sink her into 
deeper ruin. Legrange, your shoulders are pillars of 
state that can support your falling country.” 

‘‘ If she crumbles, we fall together ; if the hurricane 
strikes her, we stand and go down together.” 

‘‘You must see the correctness of my reasoning, and 
as a friend to the South I solemnly counsel you to use 
your patriotic wisdom, unblinded by bitter prejudice, 
and save your country.” 

“ Gen. Grant, I believe the Amendment will be sub- 
mitted to the Southern States — ” 

“ Before this is done, I would have you warn your 
countrymen that they may act intelligently.” 

“ I believe that every effort will be made by the 
administration to induce them to reject it ; and though 
the North may not readily recede from her position, 
still the President’s policy must in the end prevail. He 
is my country’s friend, and I cannot counsel it to viper- 
like sting the hand that protects it.” 

“Your intentions are good but unwise, and most 
urgently I advise submission. I stand in such a position 
before the country, almost representing the Union 
sentiment, that it becomes my duty to warn 
Southerners. I have done nothing to induce Northern- 
ers to come to their decision, but now that the decision 
is made I believe in a majority rule, and shall prevail 
on the South’s submission. To-morrow I shall meet 
a very important delegation from Arkansas, and 
Mr* Seward, although he is opposed to the Amendment, 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa.. 


61 


lias arranged for them to meet me at his residence. I 
shall declare my friendship to them, and warn them 
that the temper of the North is roused, and if her terms 
are rejected harsher ones will he imposed. I shall 
argue, and plead with them and every Southerner I 
meet, for the sake of the South, for the sake of the 
entire country, for their own individual sakes, to con- 
form to the situation. I called to get you to accompany 
me. Will you go?’’ 

Certainly ! but with a different mission. Your fore- 
sight may he sagacious, and I know your intentions 
are noble, but I do not think you completely under- 
stand the nature of the subjection you require.” 

When too late for remedy, you will see that a long 
series of misfortunes and dangers will arise, and be 
directly traceable to the influence or action of one man 
— the President. I wish you vrould reconsider your 
decision, and determine to aid me in my purpose ; if 
you cannot give me this assistance I do not wish your 
presence with its influence against the Amendment.” 

When Gen. Grant rose to leave, Legrange shook his 
hand warmly. 

General, I thank you for your kind interest mani- 
fested in my country, and regret that I could not con- 
vert you to my views. The establishment of the Freed- 
men’s Bureau, the Civil Rights Bill, and Fourteenth 
Amendment, shows plainly the intentions of the North 
towards the South. Carpet-bagger rule once establish- 
ed and maintained bymilitary force, will plunge my 
country into ignorance, and hopeless barbarity, deeper 
than that of the Dark Ages. The causes of that dark 
night in human civilization, resemble the circumstan- 
ces which surround my country; it cannot be disputed, 
that like causes produce like eflects. The wisdom 
and experience of ages will guide me in directing my 


62 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


countrymen. I understand your motives and honor 
you for your general purposes ; and shall rejoice at an 
opportunity to return your noble benevolence, that 
turned and prevented indictments against our honored 
great chiefs, Davis and Lee.” 

He accompanied Gen. Grant to his carriage, shook 
his hand warmly, turned and walked the wide marble 
gallery. His head drooped and his thought was intent. 
The heart of William Tell never throbbed with a no- 
bler patriotism. He felt the weight of great events 
pressing upon him. A cold, glittering moonlight fell 
through the tall columns and cast their long shadows 
on the marble floor, making this Byronic gallery of 
Corinthian grandeur a picture of Alhambra beauty. 
Out over the wide front lawn, shadows clustered un- 
der the forest trees that guarded Greek statues be- 
neath them. Here and there a fountain sparkled in 
the mellow light, and bathed the gleaming limbs of 
sculptured gods and heroes. It was a scene lovely as 
the Alhambra by moonlight ; but it roused not the 
ideality of his nature. His powerful intellect was con- 
centrated on a piece of statecraft ; and as if unconsci- 
ously speaking his thoughts, he murmured : 

Oh ! Tis a burden, Cromwell ! ’tis a burden too 
great for these ruined pillars of state.” 


CHAPTER IX. 

If Brutus had have heeded Cassius, Mark Antony 
would never have defeated them at Philippi. When 
Antony entered the Senate and found his friend dead 
at the foot of Pompey’s statue, he begged for the body 
of great C^ssar, and the privilege of making his 


SEVERED AT OETTYSBURG. 


0)3 

funeral oration. Brutus consented ! Cassius remon- 
strated, but Brutus granted the boon to Caesar \s friend! 
Had he have listened to the clear-eyed Cassius, Antony 
never would have avenged the death of Caesar.’^ 

It was a room in the Willard Hotel, and the two 
occupants were Thaddeus Stevens and Henry Winter 
Davis ; when the latter had paused the former asked 
impressively : 

‘‘ What follows 

If Legrange speaks in the Senate to-day Johnson 
will be acquitted.” 

“You are right ; and Caesar never more truly saw 
danger in the visage of the arch conspirator, than 
there is in this statesman. But how prevent him ; he 
has the eyes of Cassius, far-reaching, searching to 
scrutiny ; and the eulogy of Antony over dead 
Brutus, did not more truthfully fit the ^ noblest Roman 
of them all,’ than it does this man Legrange.” 

The speaker restlessly tramped the length of the 
elegant room, and the proud, noble features were 
stern with heavy thought, and when he approached 
his companion the latter asked : 

“ Do you think he could be bribed ?” 

He swung round in his walk and with an imperious 
gesture replied : 

“ He would stab the man who would utter the 
proposition ; he is of sterner stuff, and would, ‘ by 
heaven, rather coin his heart, and drop his blood for 
drachmas,’ than pollute his honorable hands with 
purchase money. What, shall one of us, the foremost 
men of our party and nation, contaminate our fingers 
with base bribes ? ^ I had rather be a dog, and bay 

the moon, than such a Roman.’ ” 

“ Then he is gone beyond us, and all our glor> in 
that one man have we lost." 


04 


SEVERED At GETtYSBURO. 


There was a long silence, during which the faces of 
these Republican leaders were a curious study. 

You still feel satisfied that the vote will stand 
thirty- five for conviction and nineteen for acquittal !” 
^ado.” 

One vote is needed, Trumbull, Henderson, Grimes, 
Fowler, Ross, Van Winkle, and Fessendeil, are the 
Republicans you think will break from their party and 
vote with the Democrats. They have always been 
true to their party.” 

But now, to-day, they will vote for a principle 
that Legrange has convinced them is higher than 
party principles . They are honest in their convictions, 
so is Legrange, and the very thunderbolts of God 
Almighty could not swerve them.” 

I tell you, that heaven and earth must be ran- 
sacked for a plan with which to change one of these 
votes.” 

‘‘ They have been, and hell ; too, but, sir, the devil Is 
powerless against the granite honesty of these men ; 
honor leagues them in chains that Omnipotence can- 
not sever. When honor is deep in the human brain, 
it is the strongest principle of action, and rules all 
others.” 

I know that heavy influences, and weighty press- 
ures, have been bf ought to bear on these senators.” 

And in obedience to the law of weights, they have 
settled more firmly the objects under pressure.” 

How would threats operate.” 

Like your pressure, only to settle them to a rock- 
solidity. Threats have been heeded , by them, about 
as much as they would mind the laugh of idiots. 
All things have been tried and to no avail. The 
Senate will soon convene, and — ” 

Just then the door opened and Stanton entered. 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


65 


have just been in conference with Grant ; he 
thinks that after the adjournment of , Congress, 
Johnson will suspend me. Of course it is certain that 
he would have done so long ago, but for the Tenure 
of Office Act ; he knows that Congress passed this 
bill with a special reference to me.” 

When Congress again convenes it will reinstate 
you ; but who will be Secretary of War ad interim” 

“ Grant thinks it is Johnson’s intention to appoint 
him ; and I think there can be no possible doubt as to 
the purpose of this proceeding.” 

That purpose is — ” 

To injure Grant ; my removal is done, to nullify 
as far as possible the action of Congress, to punish 
men for striving to execute the^law, to hinder the Ke- 
construction policy.” 

Johnson must know that he cannot accomplish 
this by putting Grant in.your place ; Grant is as bit- 
terly opposed to him as are you ; his military habit of 
subordination may have misled the President.” 

I think not.” 

Johnson may deem it possible for him to inveigle 
or overreach Grant.” 

The special object is to produce the impression in 
the country that Grant is in accord with the Adminis- 
tration, and that by entering the Cabinet at this crisis 
he is offering proof of his sympathy with the Presi- 
dent.” 

There must be a personal reason why Johnson 
wishes to foster this idea.” 

Certainly. It is plain that Grant’s popularity is 
likely to make him a Presidential candidate ; and the 
belief that he sustains Johnson will destroy his hold 
on the Kepublicans. Grant has indeed so successfully 
concealed his opposition to the President from the pub- 


66 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG^. 

lie knowledge that the mass of the people can easily he 
led to believe that Grant is Johnson’s adherent. The 
Kepublicans are opposed to Johnson, and they lionize 
Grant. If Johnson can establish the supposition that 
Grant supports the administration, Johnson will have 
succeeded in killing Grant’s popularity with the Repub- 
licans ; while with the President’s party, the President 
himself is chief. Grant is the only rival that Johnson 
fears ; he believes he can defeat any other candidate of 
the Republicans, so that by making Grant impossible 
he will have secured his own success.” 

Thus the Administration hopes to enjoy the bene- 
fit of Grant’s popularity at the very nmment they are 
seeking to undermine it.” 

A piece of craft worthy of Machiavelli.” 

So much for the President’s plans ; what are 
Grant’s ?” 

^^He has had several interviews with Johnson, and 
thoroughly understands the Presidential game ; it is 
n6w brain against brain, scheme against scheme, each 
trying to entrap the other. Grant was a great Gen- 
eral ; but here he is greater.” 

^ ‘ Of course, the order of your removal will be in 
strict accordance with the provisions of the Tenure of 
Office Act ?” 

“ Johnson is too shrewd to do otherwise.” 

Should Grant accept ?” 

He thinks so ; he is genuinely loyal to me, and to 
the country.” 

If he accepts ?” 

It will be with the intention to do his utmost to 
carry out the policy that I will be suspended for per- 
sisting to execute.” 

This is the only way ; to sharpen Johnson’s tools 
and turn them to his own destruction. Republicans 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


67 


will soon learn Grant’s loj^alty; and the measures 
necessary to defeat their common enemy, and the 
game he contrived to destroy Grant, will make Grant 
sweeper of stakes.” 


CHAPTER X. 

It was now the stormy days of Reconstruction, 
the situation was unprecedented in the history of 
nations, except once in England, when the people and 
par't of Parliament were opposing Charles I. Faith- 
lessness was the chief cause of the king’s disasters, 
and brought about that hazardous game on which 
were staked the destinies of the English people. It 
would seem that these great events on which swung 
the destiny of nation, from other causes than faithless- 
ness, had plunged themselves centuries forward, and 
caused a similar revolution in America. It was play- 
ed on the side of Grant, Stanton, and the North, and 
Congress with vigilant keenness; but from Johnson 
and his cabinet, they found dextrous statecraft, cool- 
ness, perseverance, and firmness terminating in ob- 
stinacy. Between the two factions hung the destiny 
of the South. The question was whether the States 
that had seceded and the population that had rebelled 
should be admitted to their former place with or with- 
out the stipulations and restrictions which the victors 
had decided to demand.” The President opposed the 
decision of the North, and demanded easier terms from 
it for the admission of the Southern States ; they lis- 
tened to his promises, as deliverance from their bon- 
dage of their unyielding and unmerciful conquerors. 
Congress bitterly opposed the President and his fre- 


68 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

queiit vetoes, and violent demonstration of their acts 
caused the warfare to rage with intense animosity. 
Carpet-hag rule was enforced over the South by the 
stationing of the military at New Orleans, and other 
principal points. Great statesmen who looked far 
behind them and before them were at the head of that 
assembly, waging a fierce war on the President whom 
they regarded as a conspirator. From 1866 to 1868 , 
Grant and Stanton opposed their common superior, 
whom they deemed trying to frustrate the declared will 
of the people. It was feared during that time that 
Johnson would peremptorily dismiss the Secretary 
of War, who was no longer in his confidence, and Con- 
gress took extraordinary means to prevent this action. 
The well-known Tenure of Office bill was passed in 
order to make it impossible for Johnson to remove 
subordinates who were not in harmony with his views. 
The President, like Charles I., naturally desired to 
have only his own supporters in office at such a 
crisis, while Congress was determined that those whom 
Lincoln had appointed should not be removed by the 
successor who had certainly renounced his party, and 
who they thought was betraying his country. So 
the law was passed, against the protestations and over 
the veto of the President, prohibiting him, without the 
approval of the Senate, from removing officers whose 
confirmation required the Senate’s approval. The rule 
was extended with certain restrictions to members of 
the Cabinet; and the President was not allowed to dis- 
miss a minister before the end of his term. He was, 
however, at liberty to suspend any officer for cause, 
during the recess of Congress; when that body convened 
a report must be made to the Senate stating the cause 
of removal. If the Senate concurred the officer was 
dismissed; if not, he was restored.” Congress adjourn- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG 


69 


ed 20th of July ; Johnson suspended Stanton 12th of 
August. This increased the hostility of Congress to 
the President; it was determined to impeach him, and 
during the three months spent in making preparations 
for the impeachment and trial hostilities reached a 
bitter intensity. The President had employed the best 
legal talent; among which was Legrange. The Presi- 
dents enemies dreaded, feared this trusted counselor 
in political and military affairs; they had felt the 
weight of his great abilities, eloquence, courage and 
imperious nature. The December Congress had con- 
vened; it vras a cool, chill night, city filled and the 
vast Capitol thronged. It was the last day of John- 
son’s trial. The huge marble Capitol was packed; 
Legrange stood before a dense audience. All eyes 
were turned upon him; his undertaking was vast, he 
contended with much older and more experienced 
statesmen who were the recognized leaders of their 
party. From his first words there was intense silence. 
His eyes rested upon the face of Conkling, the great 
Republican senator, and one of the most astute, pierc- 
ing intellects among his opponents; for him the strong, 
powerful statesman, there could be no such thing as 
defeat by this almost youthful orator, but he knew 
that Legrange ’s creed was justice; his god, power ; and 
he meted the same measure alike to prince and beggar ; 
with a haughty contempt for wealth he flung his 
thousands to the poor, and with a lofty disdain for any 
power save that which comes from the strength of his 
giant will and genius, money could not buy him. Now 
the fire of his eloquence burned with an intense, heated 
brilliance ; it threw a keen, swift light into the depths 
of his argument, and his audience listened spellbound. 
The crater of his genius burned with a glow that 
lighted all the dark depths beneath. Fame had no 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURO. 


to 

glitter for him, he wrestled with the cause of honor, 
because it won honor. Steadily, firmly his master 
brain was cleaving a track to the highest point in the 
nation’s temple, until he would stand side by side with 
her great sons of glory. His name was already famed 
for justice and honor, incorruptible, but to-night he 
rendered it deathless. He courted difficulties and 
wrestled almost with omnipotence; impossibilities fas- 
cinated him and as he measured the strength of his 
giant intellect against them, a thrill of keen pleasure 
shot through his imperious nature, that weak ones 
never feel. His fearless eyes swept that dense house 
and a breathless stillness reigned. His features were 
calm in their perfect intensity ; a haughty grand face 
with a chill, contemptuous denunciation of the villainy 
he exposed. 

He spoke long and withou t effort ; with the sharpened 
point of his steel penetration he pierced the schemes 
of his opponents, and rent their sophistries asunder 
as would a giant a frail web ; beneath the sweep of 
his eloquence wavering adherents bowed ; and the 
hammer of his logic ground out conviction on the 
judgment of many ; and the sledge of his argument 
crushed their theories to powdered dust. 

In that packed audience was William Pitt Fessen- 
den, one of the most accomplished debaters in* the 
Senate, and a man whose nature was squared by 
the rigid principles of honor and justice. He listened 
to the young orator with keen interest; he recog- 
nized the statements as true and his clear, analyt- 
ical reasoning, as solidly correct. Legrange main- 
tained that the imjDeachment was entirely political ; 
and that it could not be sustained either in law or 
morals.” Though a vast majority of Republican 
Senators knew that his statement was a fact, it di4 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. Yl 

not have the weight of drifting down ; bitter feelings 
and animosity toward the President swayed them 
against their reason and conscience. The force of 
the orator’s eloquence and truthful logic burned 
itself into their brains to no purpose ; and with mer- 
ciless derision he denounced and exposed their 
schemes, and lashed these great law makers with 
the fury of his wrathful scorn ; in their hearts they 
cursed this man who, in the proud grandeur of his 
sublime moral nature, they could not purchase ; he 
stood above them soilless, incorruptible, and as Grattan 
said of the great English statesman, he stood alone 
and modern degeneracy could not reach him.” Here 
he Avas not entirely alone, there were seven Republican 
senators and twelve Democrats whose grandeur of 
character, whose stern honor had held them firml.y 
against the bribes and threats of Johnson’s enemies. 
“ The country had no idea of the influences brought 
to bear on these seven men ; they were first entreated, 
and as a last resort threatened b}^ their party, but in 
their convictions, they stood firm as the hills eternal.” 
All honor to these brave, conscientious, noble men. 
They would peril life and eternit^^ in the cause of 
justice ; and the honest statements of Legrange found 
sanction from them. His speech formed an era in 
American history, and struck a blow that Avould re- 
sound through the universe, and echo down the 
unborn ages. When he sat down the friends 
and enemies of Johnson knew that he would be ac- 
quitted. The votes cast were thirty-five for impeach- 
ment, nineteen not guilty. The brave, conscientious 
Republicans who separated from their party, and voted 
on honest principles, were William Pitt Fessenden, 
Lyman Trumbull, John B. Henderson, James W. 
Grimes, Joseph S. Fowler, Edmund G. Ross, and 


.t2 SEVERED At GETTYSBURG}. 

I ■ • . - 

Peter G. Van Winkle ; they prevented a great national 
outrage and preserved America’s honor ; their name 
should he ever held in honored remembrance by their 
countrymen. The President was acquitted b3^ the 
majority of one vote ; it requiring a two-third vote of 
the Senate for conviction. Through the rotunda, 
statuary hall, and marble corridors, a dense throng of 
humanity obstructed the way, and Legrange was com- 
pelled to move slowly; at last he reached the wide 
marble steps of the East entrance. There he paused, 
for he saw his little waif, in company with a crippled 
3muth, talking to the same handsome foreigner he had 
seen frequenting his wife’s banquets. He was not near 
enough to hear the conversation, or rather questions of 
the foreigner, but from the man’s cool, diabolical 
expression, Legrange was convinced that the man 
intended no good for these children. As if conscious 
of being watched he soon left them ; and approaching, 
Legrange stooped, took baby Murillo’s tiny hand and 
said : 

^ ‘ Good evening, little friends ; what are you going to 
do with so many beautiful flowers ?” 

Sell them,” replied Guido. 

‘‘Will 3mu sell them all to me.” 

“ Will you, Murillo ?” asked Guido. 

The child nodded her golden head in assent. 

Legrange took her cluster of violets, geraniums and 
heliotrope, and poured into her apron a handful of 
silver dollars ; her big violet eyes looked into his with 
joy and wonder. 

“ He dib me too much. Dido.” 

“ She thinks her flowers not worth so much money, 
sir.” 

Legrange patted the baby, curly head, and replied : 

“ Take it home to mamma.” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. T3 

‘ ‘ I ab no mamma ; Dido tell him er is dead ; er is 
wid de angels.” 

And has left a little one on earth,” returned 
Legrange, as he looked up and saw the tears streaming 
from the face of McPherson, who stood near leaning 
against a column. His eyes were brimful, and a great 
uncontrollable grief seemed to possess him. 

Where is your home, little friends ?” 

Hush, Murillo,” said Guido, as she tried to tell, 
and a perplexed expression settled on her face. 

Hy Dido, ’e is dood.” 

The boy’s face was a curious study, and Legrange 
knew that the lad’s confidence in him wanted to trust 
him, while caution against some unknown danger 
prompted him to silence. 

“ Why do you hesitate, my boy ?” 

That wicked looking man asked the same question, 
and I know that I did wrong in telling him.” 

‘‘ Then, if you fear danger, it is best to let your 
friends know where you live, so when necessary they 
can come to your assistance.” 

Sir, he talked kindly too.” 

Child, I am your friend and you can trust me.” 

The boy looked steadily into the statesman’s face ; 
they had left the Capitol and now walked along the 
broad, beautiful street. Giving the avenue and 
number of the house, Guido, as if settling the doubt of 
right or wrong in so doing, spoke aloud : 

He looks differently .from the other ; his face is 
nobler.” 

“ Come in, my little friends,” said Legrange, entering 
a clothing establishment while the children hesitated. 
Guido had taken Murillo’s mone 3 ^ and had safely 
deposited it in his pockets. Legrange purchased 
warm, nice materials and had these children comfort- 


74 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


ably clothed ; shoes and stockings were a luxury they 
had not known only once or twice in their lifetime, and 
together with these and their new suits Legrange 
made them the happiest children in all that vast 
capital. When they had shaken hands with him and 
had turned homewards, they talked of nothing but the 
great and benevolent man who had given them so 
many nice things. He had requested them to come 
every morning or evenmg and bring him flowers ; they 
must sell them to no one but him, he was fond of 
violets and geraniums and wanted all they could bring, 
and they looked forward to their visits to him as if 
they were going to enter paradise. When they 
reached home Murillo ran in to show her beautiful 
clothes to mother Dean, and Guido went up into the 
garret where by a dim sunset light, Marcus Lawrence 
sat bending over a table pulled closely to the attic 
window. He was writing and sheets of manuscript 
were scattered round him. As the boy entered he 
glanced up. 

Where is my darling, Guido ?” 

‘‘ She is safe, down in Mother Dean’s room.” 

‘‘ Are you certain ?” 

Yes, sir. ” 

Guido had long known that the sole object of this 
man’s existence was to guard, to protect his baby 
child, Murillo ; he never trusted her with anyone 
except Mother Dean and Guido. The sunset died out 
in western skies ; the light became too dim for his 
feeble eyes, and while Guido related the story of 
their good fortune, Marcus Lawrence slowly walked 
the narrow floor. 

And his name ?” asked the old man. 

Meredith Legrange.” 

The great statesman ?’* 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. ft) 

Yes, sir.’’ 

“ Oh life ! thy everlasting mystery and miracle ; he 
giving charity to her child.” 

He walked wearily to a battered, small trunk, and 
sitting down opened it. 

“Guido?” 

The boy went to him. 

“ Sit there, the time has come when I must confide 
important secrets to you; boy, put your hand on this, 
her Bible, and swear, for the sake of her child, you 
keep faithfully what I shall tell you. Murillo is in 
great danger.” 

Laying his hands on the Bible, this is the pledge, 
Guido gave : 

“ Secrets you tell me, shall never be divulged with- 
out your consent, and I will guard our little Murillo’s 
life at the cost of my own.” 

He laid the Bible back in its place, and took up two 
small daguerreotypes. 

“ Guido, Murillo is not my child. This is the face 
of her father ; and this her mother, my d^vling 
sister.” 

Where are they now ?” asked Guido, looking 
upon the noble features of her parents. 

“ Dead.” 

“Both?” 

“Yes, both killed at Gettysburg;” for a moment 
the old man seemed overpowered by a rush of sad 
memories, and then he continued : 

“ She followed her husband all through the rebel- 
lion ; and when he fought before open cannons she was 
there with him, the soldiers called her ‘ McPherson’s 
boy comrade,’ but she was his wife. There were 
three of us, two brothers and our darling sister; 
brother Lucius fought with them, and when herhus- 


to 


SEVERED At GETTYSBURG!. 


band, the stand ai*d bearer, was shot, and the flag* 
trailed in the gore of a bloody battle-ground, she 
furled it upward only to be shot ; she courted death 
thus, in the same way he was killed. Our brother 
bore her from the field to a cabin near by. McPher- 
son was killed almost instantly, but she lingered 
many weeks, and died at the birth of our darling 
Murillo; brother buried her on the outskirts of the 
battle ground, near a grave where many brave 
soldiers were interred. He marked the spot, where 
together they fell, husband and wife, and brought her 
babe to me. It was her dying gift, and the last 
tribute of her love. He returned to the war and, too, 
was killed ; nothing marks the spot where he was 
buried ; like thousands of other brave soldiers who 
fell for their country, he sleeps with the unknown. I 
am the last of our famil^^ and my little darling the 
only link in the chain of relrtionship.” 

His gray locks were bowc d upon his hands, and a 
world of sadness quivered in his tones. The room was 
filled with dusky shadows, and for several minutes the 
mournful silence was unbroken ; then he continued : 

“ Her husband was a brave soldier, and a noble, 
honorable man ; it is though his people that danger 
is threatening her child.’’ 

His tones had, all through the sad recital, been very 
low, now they sunk to an almost inaudible whisper. 

There are men in France” — his voice became in- 
audible, and the next words which Guido heard 
were — one of them is now in Washington ; he — ” 

A low, quick knock on the door arrested their atten- 
tion ; he placed the daguerreotypes in the trunk, 
closed and locked it, fastened the key to a small chain 
around his neck. 

Light the candle, Guido, and go to the door,” he 


SEV12RED AT GETTYSBlTRa. 


77 


said in tremulous tones. Another quick, impatient 
knock, caused Guido to open the door and the stranger, 
he had designated wicked, entered, 

“ Is this where Marcus Lawrence lives 

What do you want with him, sir ?” 

A private conversation, sir, that may result very 
beneficially to him.’’ 

I am Marcus Lawrence ; you can proceed ; this lad 
is like the dead, he tells no secrets.’ 

No, I wish to see you alone.” 

Guido stood near, and stooping, so closely that the 
cold trembling lips touched his ear, he whispered : 

Run down and see if our darling is safe.” 

I know she is ; I think I had better stay with you.” 

Go boy, to my child ! danger tracks her.” 

When they looked up, the foreigner had moved 
noiselessly and now stood on the opposite side of a nar- 
row table ; he was near enough to hear, and a look of 
gratification told that he had gained valuable informa- 
tion, more from the manner of Lawrence than his 
words. When they were alone he said : 

‘ ‘ I met your little girl to-day at the Capitol ; she is a 
beautiful, charming baby creature, and I have called 
to offer you my assistance in supporting and educating 
her. I am a rich nobleman, and if you will give her 
to me she shall have every luxury and advantage that 
title and wealth can bestow.” 

Never, sir ; never !” and a fiash of scorn swept tlie 
cadaverous face. We will always share our crusts so 
long as we both do live.” 

And when you have none.” 

Then, together we will starve.” 

Heroic talk,” sneered the foreigner, while Lawrence 
made a movement as if to clutch the villain’s throat, 
who fearing to be foiled, returned blandly : 


78 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Come, think of what you will deprive your child ; 
wealth, luxuries, and even rank. You are an old 
man, and no doubt will soon die and leave your 
daughter unprotected. Reflect before you decide.’’- 
Sir, nobleman ; you have not wealth, luxuries, and 
titles enough in all Europe to buy my darling. She is 
the only link that binds me to my sacred dead. Do 
you think you can deceive an old man. Once with you 
my child would never return. What — ” 

‘‘O, yes, she could visit you frequently,” while a 
gleam of triumph shot over the cold, cruel features, he 
deemed Lawrence would yield. 

‘‘ Sir, you cannot dupe Marcus Lawrence ; begone, I 
know you, and also your villainous purpose.” 

His tones were so vehement that Guido and Mother 
Dean rushed up-stairs, bringing Murillo. In the door- 
way the stranger passed them, and crowding against 
Mother Dean, wrenched Murillo from her grasp, and 
rushed down the creaking stairway, out upon the 
street, sprang into a close carriage, and was driven 
away swiftl3^ Mother Dean flew after him, but when 
she had reached the street, he and Murillo were no- 
where visible. 

Lawrence stood dumb, petrified into rigid, moveless 
granite. Ah, it was a pitiable sight, the old man 
motionless in his stony agony. Guido stood by rubbing 
the marble stiff Angers. This was the scene McPher- 
son saw as he entered. He approached, and laid his 
hand on the old man’s shoulder. 

‘‘ Is he speechless ?” he asked. 

I fear it will kill him,” returned Guido. 

What has happened ?” 

His little daughter has been stolen,” 

When ?” 

‘‘Just now,” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


79 


Where?” 

‘‘ Out of this room.” 

By whom !” 

The wicked-looking foreigner we talked with at the 
Capitol this evening.” 

‘‘ Old man! I will find your child; I will bring her 
back, so help me God.” He turned suddenly and left 
the room. After putting detectives on the search of 
the child Mother Dean returned, helped Guido lay the 
old man on his bed, and together they watched him all 
through the long tedious night. She had met Mc- 
Pherson and had informed him of her proceedings, and 
her faith in the stranger was such that she tried to in- 
spire Lawrence with the belief that his child would 
soon be restored. 


CHAPTER XI. 

I fear you have bungled dreadfully ; you were too 
bold to kidnap the child before three witnesses. I am 
certain that detectives are now searching for her ; your 
work should have been more secretly executed.” 

^^That was the best opportunity I have ever had. 
Yesterday I tracked them from the Capitol, but Le- 
grange accompanied them until they almost liad 
reached their door ; when he left them there were so 
many people passing by the waifs that it was impossi- 
ble. The opportunity I took was my only chance, for 
Lawrence had learned that imminent danger threat- 
ened the child, and she would never again have been 
permitted to get out of his sight, and the precautions 
I took are sufficient to mislead the keenest detective.” 

^‘When will you leave ?” 


80 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


To-niglit ; the steamer sails at the most propitious 
hour.’’ 

Is the child perfectly secure ?” 

She is here in this house.” 

‘^Here?” 

^‘Yes; and you know that this palatial residence 
will be the last to be suspected ; the patrician standing 
of our aristocratic accomplice secures us. 

The two men sat closely together in the private par- 
lor of Mrs. Legrange, one a prominent Republican con- 
gressman, the other our well known foreigner, who 
after a short silence continued : ‘‘Do your part as 
neatly, and you will get a round half million, money 
always controls the floating votes, and you have great 
political aspirations.” 

“You never mind them,” returned the politician 
with cool indifference. “ I fear dreadfully that you did 
not execute your work with sufficient secrecy and dex- 
trous maneuvering.” 

“You think I needed your political training to 
have become a skillful expert in the science of secret 
scheming and villainous chicanery, eh?” laughed the 
foreigner. “ I grant that you have been practising 
deeper in the science than I. But how are your watch- 
dogs, Huntlyand Lidell, progressing?” 

“You can reckon that they will execute their job 
neatly.” 

“And their pay, are they satisfled ?” 

“ They ask no greater reward than the opportunity 
of rifling government pouches ; they count themselves 
muniflcently paid.” 

“ Did you have much difficulty in securing their ap- 
pointment ?” 

“ Rone ; I had nothing to do except express the de- 
sire to Graht ; he held a conversation with McPherson 
who made their appointments.” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


81 


‘^And tied the rope which is to strangle him.’’ 

Yes ; those watchdogs of mine will finish the job.” 

''Are they Machiavelli enough to make suspicion 
point with the certainty of facts to him ?” 

" They will read their man, for they have much of 
Niccolo’s humanistic erudition, all of his scheming 
originality, all of his audacity and diplomatic prudence, 
all of his adroitness of cruelty and fraud, self-reliance 
and the avoidance of half measures.” 

" In fact they have been trained in political subtle- 
ties deep as those of Italian statecraft, and you a 
veritable Borgia have schooled them?” smiled the 
foreigner. "How long before they begin operat- 
ing?” 

" They have commenced,” but their work will neces- 
sarily be slow. Grant must not suspicion foul work 
going on in that department; he is honorable and would 
check our plans; but leave the matter to my manage- 
ment and McPherson will spend ninety-nine years, or 
his lifetime, in the Chester penitentiary just so certain 
as we both do now breathe.” 

" Execute your promise, and your pay will be half a 
million, fail and — ” 

The sentence was not finished, for the pohtician 
looked up and in his eyes a steely glitter checked the 
audacity of his accomplice. Those who are familiar 
with the features of Caesar Borgia, will find them 
largely reproduced in the face of this crafty politician ; 
and with the features follows the character, for nature 
is true in her laws of generation, of cause and effect. 
He was intelligent and sagacious ; possessed Borgia's 
extraordinary abilities, but his political success was 
not so much owing to the superiority of his qualities 
as to his utter emancipation from every restraint of 
conscience and honor. He was now silent, and his 


82 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG- 


companion scrutinized the features, and after deep 
reflection the politician asked : 

Could you pay one-half now ?” 

A quick, impatient knocking on the rotunda door 
outside prevented a reply. 

The doors are securely locked,” he answered. 

Some one is impatient to get in,” returned the 
politician, while the bolt was being severely shaken. 
The foreigner unlocked the door and Mrs. Legrange 
entered. 

‘‘In ten minutes jmu will be arrested,” she ex- 
claimed in whispering tones. Legrange, with two 
detectives, is coming down the hall; rush through that 
door,” she said, pointing to one which opened into her 
private apartments. 

“ Give me th« child, quick, ” he returned. 

“You have no time,” she replied, in great excite- 
ment, “ rush and leave her to me.” 

As they sprang through the door, she closed and 
locked it, threw the key under a rug in front of a 
book-case, before which she stood with calm noncha- 
lance, running her flngefs over morocco bound 
volumes ; she seemed quite absorbed in examining her 
book-shelves, and though conscious that Legrange 
and two strangers stood near she did not betray any 
knowledge of their presence. The greatest actors 
never play before the footlights of a theatrical stage ; 
the most consummate villains never stand in a 
criminaTs dock ; their intellects for hypocrisy and 
craft, culminate into a genius that carries them beyond 
human justice ; the courts of men cannot entrap 
them. 

“ Madam.” 

Ugh ! Sir statesman, how you startle me !” she 
replied , with a sudden spring from him, “ Really your 


Af (^E'rTYSBURa. ^ 

Watchful care is so guardian-angel-like that I might 
very pardonably take you for one.” 

“ Madam, unlock that door.” 

‘‘ Indeed, sir ; my private apartments to be intruded, 
their sanctity — ” 

‘‘End in perdition; madam open that door,” and 
Legrange’s hand fell with iron grip on her velvet clad 
shoulders, as he pushed her towards the door. For a 
moment she seemed dumb with rage. 

“Splendidly acted, madam; your object to gain 
time shall be frustrated. Once more, unlock the bolt 
or it shall be broken.” 

“ Indeed, sir ; jmu contemptible parvenu, by what 
authority,” she cried, striking her kid boot on the 
marble floor with the ferocity of an enraged tigress ; 
for the intensity of passion culminates in the female. 

“ Break it open,” he said, turning to the offlcer of 
the law, and in a moment the door lay shattered on the 
polished floor. “Search,” he continued, “and the 
doors you cannot get unlocked, burst open ; search 
every apartment from ‘ turret to foundation stone.’ ” 

The men passed on, and Legrange stood before his 
wife ; a volcano seethed in his veins, but outwardly he 
was calm and passionless as the statue of the fleeing 
Niobe on which his hand rested, and his immovable 
composure only lashed her rage into tigress fury. She 
moved to leave him, but again his heavy hand stopped 
her. 

“ Sir, is this house a Sing Sing prison for convicts ; a 
Chilon dungeon with barred windows and locked 
doors?” 

“ It appears that you have made it such, madam ; it 
is a panopticon, wherein I have seen you manj^ times 
when you thought my eyes were fathoming deep in the 
mysteries of state secrets.” 


84 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


Her face blanched, and her lips became colorless. 
In that cold beautiful face he read the same diabolical 
cruelty found in the stony, inexorable features of the 

Cimbrian Prophetess, who watched with eager divin- 
ing eyes the blood that flowed from her human vic- 
tims.” All the devotion and pure love of a lifetime 
could never rekindle the spark of divinity that God 
gave her for soul. Her moral nature stagnated, 
then died. She is as devoid of nobility as an arch 
fiend. A voluptuary that lives an existence born of 
the senses. Looking steadily into her fiery eyes he 
said : 

‘‘Madam, it would appear that your aristocratic 
hands could not bend themselves to the contemptible 
schemes you help to execute.” 

“What do you insinuate, sir ! you odious upstart.” 

“ The accompliceship you have taken in abducting 
that child her face blanched hueless. “ Madam, you 
remember Mamus’ suggestion to Yulcan, of a window 
in the human breast whereby one’s thoughts may be- 
come visible ? I need no such apertures ; with all 
jmur Accromboni machinations, I read your secret 
thoughts. That child is under your protection.” 

“Sir, how honorable in you to condemn in me, the 
same act that in yourself you call charity. Did you 
not long since carry that same beggar into your 
library, to protect her from cold and starvation. 
Your act was kindly benevolence j mine is deep-d^^ed 
villainy. O, man incorruptible ; you cut your mantle of 
honorable deeds to cover and fit your own square pro- 
portions.” 

She threw her head back, and a scornful laugh rang 
through the elegant marble parlor. His eyes fixed 
themselves on her’s and his lips curled contemptuously. 

“Madam, I see directly into your paradoxical state- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 85 

tnent. It is intent that makes the coloring“ of deeds ; 
intent that dyes them with the blackness of the soot 
which hangs on walls of hell, or whiteness of the angel- 
down which falls in the snows of heaven. When the 
blacksmith of perdition hammered out your natural 
shape, he left two apertures ; I look straight through 
them into the complex machinery of your secret 
workings. I penetrate your motives, and find them 
not honorable.’^ 

“ Sir, when I exchanged my name for the purple 
distinction and imperial superiority of yours I thought 
that at least, it claimed the royalty of gentleman.’’ 
She paused a moment and her lips curled sneer- 
ingly while a lurid light fiashed from indignant eyes. 
“ But my most honorable accuser, I find it as utterly 
poverty-stricken in chivalric worth, as your despicable 
parvenu manhood is abundant in odious suspicion.” 

‘‘Continue, my madam; such elegant, refined lan- 
guage sounds exquisitely from your patrician lips ; so 
in accordance with the tenets of your exclusive circle ; 
but proves a recent statement made by a philosophical 
English writer, that great ladies do not always carry 
their imperial breeding, suavity, and sweet tempers 
they parade in society with them to the privacy of their 
boudoirs. O ! woman, God made thee to remain stain- 
lessly incorruptible, crystallized purity, even when all 
else of humanit}^ surges, on an ocean of crime. Man 
bends his head in deepest humiliation when he finds 
thee more degraded than himself.” 

His tones were very mournful, and he turned from 
her and wearily walked across the polished marble tiles. 
With increased fury she replied : 

“Machiavelli would have died of mortification to 
have found his devil-like nature so outrivaled.” 

‘ ' Softly, my serene empress ; your Etna tide 


86 


SEVERED AT (^^ETTYSBURG^. 


threatens destruction to the inhabitants of thy imperial 
realm . Eeally you stir my equanimity . ’ ’ 

He paused in front of her and gently placed his hand 
on her shoulder, but she shook off the touch and drew 
haughtily from him. 

‘^Take care, sir; for vividly do I remember that- 
Giordano folded his wife tenderly in his arms while he 
slipped the cord around her neck and strangled her.’’ 

Finish your comparison, madam, and state that 
neither Isabella de Medici nor Francesco Peretti would 
have been assassinated had there not have been a 
Vittoria Accoramboni. But for her infidelities, Y anda 
would never have been murdered by the decrees of 
Baldrick the Saxon ; and in the restless, unprincipled 
life of Alfieri we find a Countess Albany, and her deeds 
of a sepulchred century only shadowed forth the acts 
of to-day that spring from similar depravity. , The 
influence of a wicked woman to induce men to evil is 
as powerful as that of Satan ; the influence of a noble 
woman to inspire men to the performance of virtuous 
deeds is as omnipotent as that of the heavenly angels. 
Too often she is the great tidal wave in man’s life that 
sweeps him to either everlasting perdition of ruin, or 
eternal, virtued greatness.” 

‘‘Sir statesman, are you such a paragon of purity 
and honor? You ignore the fact that the Countess 
of Albany would never have sought the affection of 
Alfieri, but for the cruelty of her husband.” 

Suddenly his face kindled, and in the stern voice of 
a dictator he replied : 

“ Madam, woman should maintain and hold her 
honor sacred, at the cost of her life, for existence 
without it is useless; her character should be so 
stainless, so crystally pure that the world would be- 
come her temple, and she the goddess of purity on 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


87 


a lofty pedestal-honor, before which men would kneel 
with the fervor of Eastern devotion.” 

For a moment she was silent, and watching* the 
fire die out of her countenance, he thought her better 
traits began to awaken. This was her first hour 
of control ; like all sensual, strong-willed people, her 
inclinations, pleasures, and motives of action had 
sprung from those propensities science calls animal ; 
thus the ignoble, parts of her nature had been cul- 
tivated, by their frequent gratification, while the 
better had become dormant from long disuse ; and her 
will was ever powerful to remove all obstacles to her 
sensual career. Circumstances had been such as 
to foster the evil of her nature, and hold subjected 
the nobler qualities ; but she had largely made and 
controlled' those circumstances and events which 
more or less aid in the structure of character build- 
ing ; and thus Legrange deemed her greatly respons- 
ible. Watching her keenly, and with the intention 
of thoroughly arousing her better faculties he con- 
tinued : 

A coquette’s reign is only in her youth; time has 
touched you lightly, yet his stylus, exquisitely keen, 
is cutting dainty hieroglyphics in your face ; though 
the lines are delicate still they are unmistakable, and 
warningly I prophesy the downfall of your empire; 
age brings a tawny wrinkled skin, robs the coquette 
of her early bloom, and the scepter falls from power- 
less hands, and uncrowned her courtiers place the 
laurels upon fairer brows. Society disowns its Jeader ; 
and Athenian-like banishes its great ones, as a true 
Koman stones its Viteluses and slays its Neroes. 
Madam, in youth society is a smooth and sparkling- 
summer sea, difficult to navigate without wealth 
for a pilot ; its surf looks no more than champagne’s 


88 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


bubbling foam, but after a long voyage upon the 
tender curves of its glittering crisp wavelets a thou- 
sand quicksands and shoals lie beneath; there are 
breakers ahead for more than half the pleasure 
boats which skim their hours upon it, the foundered 
lie, by millions forgotten, fathoms below. Then 
you realize the dirge of the lotus-eaters, ' weary the 
wandering fields of barren foam.’ I know j ou and 
your circle think the only safe ballast upon it is 
gold dust ; but even that would carry Egypt through 
a prosperous sailing. From the golden dawning of the 
first day onward to Calypso’s wooing mariners to a 
Scylla or Charybdis, women have duped men ; but- 
their fooleries fail when they find no Iduna with her 
casket of amber fruit to confer, perpetual youth on 
Avhomsoever eats thereof. Youth is the period of char- 
acter building, and the happiness of old age depends 
upon the erection of a grand moral structure. In the 
feelings of many the moral and animal regions are 
nearly equal ; whichever then receives more exercise 
becomes more strongly developed ; if the moral facul- 
ties are daily practised their power increases to suffi- 
ciently keep the animal in order and in due subservi- 
ence, and not to let them ever become spontaneously 
and uncontrollably active. Man’s character increases 
to moral sublimity, and executing within himself the ^ 
designs of his Creator, man’s happiness is eternally 
stable ; he enjoys an exquisite but permanent pleasure^ 
from the indulgence of these nobler faculties, un- 
equaled by the combined sources of all other kinds of 
enjoyments. To develop these higher propensities a 
wise Creator has scattered around us a multitude of 
opportunities ; in alleviating the miseries of our fellow 
creatures is a noble chance to exercise our better na- 
ture, and thus it will become stx’onger. For every 


SEVERED AT GETTVSBURG. 

charitable deed performed, I think the doer is the 
greater gainer ; it is physical exercise that strengthens 
our bodies ; it is morah exercise that strengthens our 
moral natures ; and it is sensual exercise that strength- 
ens the sensual nature. Unlike the moral faculties, old 
age decays the animal powers so that they can no 
longer bestow pleasure; if the moral faculties have 
received no development they become almost extinct, 
so man in this instance stands as an empty building ; 
old age creeps upon him with intense barrenness ; life 
is hollow and infinitely desolate ; and before humanity 
stands the wreck of an ill-spent life. Within these 
walls of time such men are broken, sin-stained monu- 
ments of degeneracy, while their Creator designed 
them for statues of truth and. moral grandeur.’’ 

Just then the ofldcer and McPherson returned ; the 
latter held Murillo closely in his arms. Is there a 
mysterious, invisible law in psychology similar to that 
which in physics is called chemical afidnity; a law 
which resides within the human soul as a permanent, 
ever-present and guiding energy? Yerily it would 
seem so ; for Murillo nestled her baby head tenderly 
and trustingly on McPherson’s shoulder, her little arms 
twined lovingly around his neck. McPherson’s heart 
beat with rapturous joy, and unconsciously his clasp 
tightened into a firm pressure. 

Face to face stood he and Legrange ; neither spoke, 
for between them was a wide world of bitter, bitter 
memories. 

An hour later he had placed Murillo on the bed of 
her prostrated and agonized parent, asking ; 

Marcus Lawrence, is this your child ?” 

It is.” 

‘‘Your adopted or natural daughter ?” he asked 
eagerly. 


90 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

“My own child/’ the old man answered, looking 
keenly into the face of the stranger. 

McPherson had cherished a delusive hope, now he 
turned and left the garret with a heart numh from 
aching. 


CHAPTER XII. 

Years' have past since the events of the last chapter. 
Marcus Lawrence and his child had disappeared. Le- 
grange had vainly sought them. It was now a de- 
lightful Spring evening. Mrs. Legrange would soon 
sail for Europe, and it was her last royally grand en- 
tertainment of the season. Parlors were filled with 
patrician Washington. Out on the marble square ex- 
tending on the south side of the palatial mansion 
walked Legrange ; like the court of lions in the Al- 
hambra its center was filled with a beautiful grotto 
and fountain, while the marble columns were twined 
with a mass of clustering pink roses and buds. He 
was a proud man, and conscious of strong self-reliance; 
but to-night after the hurricanes of life, he longed for 
a quiet, secure fireside with loving caressing hands 
about him, and like all strong natures the power and 
activity of his intellect made him feel keenly that these 
are essential elements in man’s domestic happiness, 
and he murmured : 

Brother, years ago you warned me; in your pre- 
scient wisdom you foretold my future.” 

The fragance of early June roses perfumed the night 
air, and a mellow full moon sparkled in silver circles 
on the rippling fountain ; now and then he passed under 
the shadow of tall sculptured columns. Once he 
paused and looked upward to the dark violet skies 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


91 


I!:'- ’:] / ;;iuddecl with golden wanderers through silent 
pill plo iiiiinensity, then he slowly walked up and down 
the iiiarhle court, his head drooped and he mused. So- 
dom and Gomorrah brought on their own destruction, 
and to-night, great golden stars in the sable, midnight 
skies of direless Egypt pour their silver radiance over 
mouldering cromlechs, century stained ruins, broken 
and buried battlements, and defiled altars of these 
proud cities of the plains. Like unto them, Meredith 
Legrange, you have desecrated and desolated the proud 
inner temple of your life. 

Closely against the wall crouched two children, the 
long colonnaded gallery was in dense shadows except 
where the moonlight fell in brilliant belts between the 
tall Caryatides columns. As moths are attracted by 
dazzling lights, these children stood and gazed upon 
the glitter and splendor of the wide marble parlors. 
A string band played a most beautiful opera. 

A couple paused, and through the open window 
drifted these words : 

'‘That piece is exquisite! Did you ever hear any 
music so thrillingly sweet ?” 

“It is pronounced a masterly composition over 
which connoisseurs are making a perfect furore.’' 

" It deserves all their praise and reflects great dis- 
tinction upon its composer.” 

“ Yes, it has firmly established his reputation. For 
some time the author was not known, but such persis- 
tent inquiry was made that Rossi acknowledged it. 
He has composed many operas but this is altogether 
dilferent and masterly superior to any of his former 
productions.” 

The speakers moved away. 

“ Don’t cry, Guido,” said Murillo. 

“ Murillo, I spent every minute I could steal upon 


9:i SEVEKED AT GETTYSBURa. 

that music ; the darkest and saddest hours of life 
were illuminated hy the exquisite pleasure I experi- 
enced while composing it, and it is too unjustly hard to 
have my honors stolen from me.’’ 

“ Think of my father, how long he has been robbed 
of the reputation won by his great book ; he is un- 
complaining, and teaches us by example that the high- 
est nobility is to bear the inevitable with unembittered 
resignation. No matter how unjustly things are here 
arranged, there is a law of rigid compensation, and 
God will straighten all crookedness. Be patient and 
uncomplaining, and believe in the justice of the good 
All Father. Into the life of each creature steals misers . 
Look at those two men out there in the moonlight ; 
they are wretched, though one is a great statesman ; 
and the other seems as if he is searching for lost hap- 
piness. Come, we must return home before father is 
uneasy at our absence.” 

The intuition of some children is almost infallible. 
Cicero, Diodorus, Pliny, Juvenal, Horace, and othei- 
ancients, tell us that originally man was a ‘ ‘ dumb and 
low herd,” which wandered through the fields, subsist- 
ing on roots and herbs. Modern metaphysicians have 
discovered him endowed with an intelligent impulse to 
the employment of means for the accomplishment of an 
end, without any knowledge of the end to be secured. 
Granting this, the question arises, is this intelligent 
impulse of man the same as the instinct of animals ; 
and is a faculty retained by man from his animal 
existence onward through his evolutionary progress, 
and gradually weakened by the cultivation and develop- 
ment of higher faculties, or is it bestowed on man 
direct from his Creator, who confers more upon some 
of His human creatures than upon others, and in 
a still greater degree upon his animal kingdom? 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


93 


for beasts possess it more acutel^^ than man. Scientists 
state that instinct is the result of habit and natural 
selection. Did not reason prompt to a trial act, 
and judg-ment decide the experiment as profitable or 
unprofitable; if profitable the reason and judgment 
aided by the first experience dictate a continuation of 
the beneficial act until it resulted in habit ? Do not 
reason and judgment either consciously or uncon- 
sciously operating form the base and incentive of every 
act? little dose,’’ as Pierre Huber expresses it, 

^^of judgment or reason, often comes into play, even in 
animals very low in the scale of nature.” ‘‘It may 
not be a logical deduction, but to my imagination it is 
far more satisfactory to look at such instincts not as 
specially endowed or created instincts, but as small 
consequences of one general law, leading to the ad- 
vancement of all organic beings, namely, multiply, 
vaiy, let the strongest live and the weakest die.” 
Whether Huber and Darwin are correct, the fact 
stands that instincts are of the highest importance to 
each animal, and some natures possess it to almost 
infallibility, for Murillo had read unerringly the hiero- 
glypliics cut by the stylus of misei-y on the counte- 
nance of McPherson ; a phrenologist would designate 
this character reading faculty, human nature, but to 
us it would seem as an infallible reasoning from 
natural effects backward to an unknown and invisible 
cause. McPherson sat before an open window, his 
heaxl drooped on his hands, and his face in the evening 
sunlight was like one of diaglyphic sculpture. A 
numb agony settled the noble features in stony rigid- 
ness. Memory’s waves broke on the shores of his 
past; dreary, desolate and barren as the rocks and 
sands lapped by the bitter waves of deadly Seistan. 
Ah ! memory, what a magic wand thou art, From out 


94 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


thy dark Lycian rock-tomb, intricate as the gloomy 
crypt of the sepulchral chamber of the M^xernus 
sphinx rise the dead at thy bidding. Over broad, 
sunlit, harvest fields of the past you gather up 
sheaves and garner them into thy abundant gran- 
eries. No Rubens’ or Angelo’s brush ever put on 
canvas pictures so faithful to nature as those 
painted by thy wonderful hands, oh memory ! Thou 
art a true Buddhist, and in the backward stretch, 
mark with topes the spots which are sacred. 
Through the silence and sufferings of years truthfully 
you sketched a picture for McPherson. It was even- 
ing and the holy calm of the Ragnaroc hour stole 
purple-mantled, golden-crowned and velvet-sandaled 
through the slopes of forest aisles. Save for the low 
coronach of old ocean, as his waves broke in silver 
circles over the yellow sands, no sound rustled the 
deep, forest, sunset stillness. He saw a fair youthful 
countenance, and felt again sweet tremulous lips 
beneath the ardent pressure of his ; felt again tender 
delicate fingers nestle against his face as he drew the 
slenderly girlish form passionately close to himr A 
weary sigh drifted over his lips and brokenly he mur- 
mured . 

Oh life, how stony are thy decrees; out therein 
that rushing, howling world her little darling is strug- 
gling somewhere. If I could see our baby’s face once 
before iron grates lock me for ever from the sunlit 
world of God.” 

His heart was too numb for tears ; it had been 
Wrung to granite-hard dryness. He did not know 
that Meredith Legrange had entered, who had stood 
closely to him for several minutes. 

“ McPherson, pardon this intrusion.” 

He glanced up, their eyes met in an earnest gaze. 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 05 

and for the first time since their boyhood, their hands 
fastened in the closely warm clasp of friendship. 

McPherson, you believe that I did everything in 
my power to save you ?” 

‘a do.” 

His head drooped very low, and after a few moments 
of silence he asked : 

‘‘You believe me guiltless ?” 

“ I do, as much so as I know that the God in heaven 
is just and righteous.” 

‘ ‘ Once I believed in His justice and mercy, noAv even 
they seem false. I never stole one cent from the 
United States government, yet an accurate network 
of facts so involved me that it almost convinced me 

that I was guilty. I know that is at the bottom of 

those schemes that operated in such a way as to con- 
vict me ; but they were so thoroughly and skillfully 
executed that no law could ever touch him.” 

“ His motives you think were — ?” 

“ To coin money ; the money that was stolen I con- 
scientiously believe went in part or whole to him, and 
his genius for fraudulent scheming planned a plot 
which, if properly executed, would involve and convict 
me. The most consummate villains never stand on 
dock. His Republican leadership makes him valuable 
to control political machinery, and he operates it in 
such a way as to always serve his rascall3^ and selfish 
ends.” 

“Yes, and if he succeeds in getting an appropriation 
for his star route scheme, he will pocket half a million 
or more; unquestionably he is a dishonest, shrew^d 
Republican politician, and the hardest thing is that the 
innocent are helpless victims of his cruel machina- 
tions.” 

“Ninety-nine years in the Chester penitentiary ! 


SEVERED AT GETIA^SBURG. 

Great God, where is thy justice ? The money went to 
him, and suspicion criminates me to shield him.” 

Le^?rani"*e Avatchcd the nohle features settle in stony 
hardness, and the lips closed in a death-like stiffness. 

'^Legrang-e, on the honor of a man, you know 
never lied in his lifetime of boyhood, I am innocent. I 
have never stolen from individuals or governments, 3’et 
doom is that of the blackest villain, and the scoun- 
drel who has ruined me stands great and honored before 
the world. I have a little girl somewhere in this wide, 
wide universe, but I have no clue to give ^mu, b^^ 
which you could trace her ; if a Providence enables 
you to discover my child, fill her father’s place, and 
some day tell her, when I am dead, of her natural 
father’s sad life and ending. Will you do this for the 
sake of our boyhood’s friendship?” 

will. Look at that face, McPherson; do 3"ou 
recognize it,” he asked, handing him a small locket. 
There was a deathly silence while the condemned 
husband gazed upon the features of his idolized wife. 
They had both loved that pure girlish face, and the 
saddest memories held them in deep unbroken stillness ; 
after awhile McPherson asked : 

Did she give you this ?” 

No, a little waif dropped it in my library. I had 
carried her in there out of the cold.” 

A little girl ?” he asked with intense eagerness. 

‘‘Yes, and wondrously like jmurself and that face.” 

“ It was surely our child ; where is she now ?” 

“ I do not know. I last saw her in your arms that 
day you carried her from my residence.” 

“ O God, and I held her in my arms, and did not 
know it. Legrange, Lawrence assured me she was 
his daughter, why should he conceal the truth ?” 

“ Who is Lawrence ?” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


97 


He must be my wife’s brother ; she had two, one 
was killed in the war. For a long time he thought me 
dead, and the evening before he was killed, he told me 
of my child’s existence with his brother. He had 
carried the parentless babe to this brother.” 

That child is your daughter, and I will discover her 
and protect her, so help me God.” 

A low knocking outside arrested their attention. 

^^No, keep it,” returned Legrange, as McPherson 
offered him the locket. 

Ho, it may serve you in identifying my child,” and 
Legrange took it from the trembling hands of the 
agonized man. 

Another knock, and Legrange answered : 

It is the guard, my time is up. Good-bye.” 

Their hands tightened in a steel-like grip and they 
parted. McPherson’s emotion was of dumb muteness. 
The next day he was carried to the Chester peni- 
tentiary. 


CHAPTER Xni. 

Oh, Guido ! Guido, what shall I do when father 
dies ; he cannot live long.” 

They sat on the broad stone steps of the Metropolitan 
church, and the girl’s face was buried in her hands. 

Who is with him when you are absent ?” 

‘‘Dear Mrs. Crist or Mrs. Huntly; they are such 
noble Christians and are so charitable to father and 
me. I receive only a scanty sum for the articles I 
write, and it requires nearly every dime to buy his 
medicines. They bring us nice warm meals, pretend- 
ing they are for him, but always sufficient for us both. 
I had just returned from the proprietor’s ofidce and 


98 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


received my small salarjs when you met me. Were it 
not for the charity of dear Mother Dean, Mrs. Huntly 
and Mrs. Crist, father would suffer ; they are noble 
women. 

And you and your father are not the only ones 
benefited by those kind acts.” 

They do good to all, as they have the opportunity, 
and in proportion to their ability to give.” 

Their charity ennobles their immortal spirits ; the 
soul is debased by all sinful, uncharitable acts and it is 
rendered godlike by all benevolence, purity and mo- 
rality of its deeds. The goodness performed is the 
soul’s noblest reward, man should not desire one out- 
side of the moral deed. A charitable soul receives 
pleasure in doing good, and its reward is, too, in this 
delight which follows from the benevolence performed. 
It may not approve of the moral character of those it 
relieves, and may thus feel a deep moral revulsion and 
repugnance to its beneficiaries, but it looks at them as 
sensitive beings, with wants and sjunpathies kindred 
to its own, and relieves from suffering and administers 
to happiness from the promptings of philanthropy. It 
is not satisfied with the acting out of its constitutional 
kindness, it cultivates and cherishes the spirit of be- 
nevolence, and would make its heart more compassion- 
ate and its hand more open to human wretchedness. It ' 
deems nothing foreign to itself that is human, and 
thus makes every man a brother and every sufferer an 
object of its sympathy, and relieves so far as it is able. 
It adorns and dignifies the man who appropriately 
practices it, and by common consent the world puts it 
among the most exalted virtues. Because God does 
good and makes His sun to shine on the evil and un- 
thankful, so the man who does good in works of chari- 
ty is named the godlike. So these noble ladies are 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


99 


rendered more noble by tbeir acts of kindness to your 
father, and are thus benefited morally by the benevo- 
lence performed. There is a reflex action in all good- 
ness. Does your father suffer intensely ?” 

/^Yes; death would relieve his long life of patient 
suffering, but make mine very desolate. His years 
have been spent in constantly performing the highest 
duties to God, nature, humanity and self. A continual 
struggle to check the immoralities of man’s animal 
nature and to aid in strengthening man’s spiritual.” 

Truly he realized that man’s ethical life must be 
perpetually militant, and his highest worth can only 
be gained in that manly valor which alone conquers by 
a perpetual conflict. He should have the complacency 
of continual mastery, but he will never, in the flesh, 
have the blessedness of complete conquest. To find 
the serene bliss of heaven he must drop the animal 
tabernacle, and thus lose the conflicting law in the 
members.” 

^‘Having created man, and thereby omnisciently 
knowing man’s weakness and liability to fall beneath 
strong temptations and too frequently overpowering 
circumstances, it seems to me that God must be very 
merciful to a repentant, sin-stained soul. If one loves 
and trusts God, though he be leprous with sin, and is 
deeply repentant, God surely judges him mercifully.” 

‘ ‘ Murillo, man must not rely entirely on the infinite 
mercy of God. He, too, rules by justice. All the world 
is a battle-ground on which men and women are either 
brave, true soldiers, or recreant cowards. Life is full 
of moral M-arengoes, and man should fall on these 
fields of immortal glory before turning traitor to the 
divinity within him . Those who hear His trumpet-calls 
to duty and honor and respond not, debase their im- 
mortal spirits and must not expect that God’s judge* 


100 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


merit of them will he altogether merciful. But thou 
who stand iron-clad on these moral battle-fields of life, 
or~sacrifice self in the cause of pure virtue fall honored 
in the triumph of a noble victory. God from His great 
high throne in heaven looks down upon these moral 
Gettysburgs, torn and trampled in the stern conflict 
between the evil and nobility of man’s nature. And 
when it terminates in the victory of virtuous heroism 
He calls His thrones and principalities to bend in honor 
to this noble conqueror.” 

The warm, amber sunset splendors fell over the lofty 
spiritual features of this crippled youth and girl. The 
church door was open, and through the solemn cathe- 
dral stillness rolled the sublime sweet strains of Ori- 
pronobis.” It deadened the pain in her heart, quieted 
its intense agony, and as she rose Guido asked : 

Where are you going ?” 

In there!” 

The lingering solemn sweetness was hushed and the 
minister’s voice read : 

‘‘Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be 
opened unto you.” 

“ Guido, I am going in there and ask God for two 
blessings, and if he grants them, none of His creatures 
will worship Him so devoutly as I shall.” 

“ If He does not?” asked Guido, watching the lofty 
sad face. Her eyes were fastened on the face of the 
minister within and slowly came her answer. 

“Then I will know that he and all ministers are 
falsifiers, and for centuries have duped humanity with 
the falsehood : ‘ Knock and it shall be opened unto you, 
ask and you shall receive.’ ” 

“Suppose what you beg of God, thinking it to be 
blessings, would work your eternal ruin? Do you 
think God’s wisdom, and justice, and mercy would al- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG 101 

low what you so ignorantly heg for your destruc- 
tion?” 

''lam going to pray God to spare my father’s life ; 
in granting it there can he no destruction for me.” 

She went into the church and knelt in the nearest 
pew, where there was room for her, she bowed her 
sad, beautiful face upon her folded palms, and her 
soul went up before the presence of an infinitely merci- 
ful God in deep supplication. 

In the pew where she knelt sat a very fashionably 
dressed lady, accompanied by an elegant appearing 
gentleman. Her lip curled disdainfully, as she drew her 
heavy silk skirts from their closeness to the vagrant, 
while she whispered : 

" Please order that pauper from our pew.” 

He shook his head. "She is one of God’s creatures, 
and seems in much suffering.” 

With a haughty bow, and more disdainful sneer she 
snapped: 

"Be magnanimous enough to change places with 
me.” » 

Quietly he moved next to the kneehng girl, and his 
eyes riveted themselves upon the young devotee’s 
noble, lovely features. Nowhere had he seen their 
equal except in the superb statue wrought by Powers. 
It Avas a beautiful face, high-souled, and filled with 
fortitude and resignation. The droop of the figure be- 
tokened great Aveariness, but uncomplaining heroic 
patience. When her prayer Avas finished, she rose 
quietly and quitted the church. 

" Murillo, do you believe God Avill ansAver your pray- 
er,” asked Guido, as he limped along by her side, ac- 
companying her home. 

" If He does not, Guido, Avhile praying, I learned that 
He doeth all things well. I know my precious father 


103 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURCI. 


dreads not death only that it will leave me so utterly 
dependent and desolate. Yet, the exchange of toil for 
rest, of suffering for heavenly pleasures will be his eter- 
nal gain, and my everlasting lifetime loss. Will you 
come up and see father ?” she asked, for they had now 
reached her home. 

“Not now ; I have been absent too long already. 
To-morrow I will visit him.'’ They shook hands, and 
he left her. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

“Come nearer, my darling." 

She twined her arms around her father's neck, and 
nestled her girlish head against his hollow cheeks. On 
a bed with scanty covering reclined the wreck of Mar- 
cus Lawrence. Fifty-nine years of wrestling on the 
Chalons- sur-Morne of life had scarred his noble feat- 
ures. His countenance wore a calm, martyr-like re- 
signation ; it told of sanguinary defeats, borne with 
such unflinching heroism, such steady, fearless endur- 
ance that made the man victor even when vanquished. 
His large, sunken eyes burned with an unnatural bril- 
liancy, and his thin features were pallid in the evening 
sunlight. A phrenologist would unerringly read the 
j)ure-minded, decisive independent, virtuous heroism of 
this man's character. Through a long life every rising 
appetite that would debase his immortal spirit in its 
passionate gratification, had been held back with a de- 
termined grasp ; and a firmly steady curb had con- 
quered the entire animal propensities. Alone and 
single-handed, deserted and derided, and cheated by 
the multitude, with honest convictions, pure inten- 
tentions^ the sincerity and dignity of virtue in its man- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. l03 

ly valor he had trodden the ways of duty, and now, 
while nearing the end of the long journey, the nobility 
of his moral deeds, and the purity of his conscience 
sustained him without fear, and he drew the draper}^ 
of his couch around him, and laid in pleasant dreams. 

“Father, do you feel better?’’ she inquired ten- 
derly. 

“My darling, my hours are numbered; keep com- 
posed and listen to me while my strength is sufficient 
for what I must relate to you. Many years ago your 
grandfather ran away from home and enlisted in the 
French navy during the reign of the First Napoleon. 
When his ship, the Pomme d’ Or, arrived at New Or- 
leans, he deserted, and coming to New England went to 
work in the factories. Here he married a noble girl 
by whom he had one child, your father, who is now 
heir to an immense fortune. When your father was 
about two 3^ears old, the husband deserted his wife and 
went back to France, where he paid court to a lady of 
rank, a relative of Mme. Poland, concealing his mar- 
riage in America. The lady’s name was Arlet. After 
a brief courtship she married Recamier. From this 
marriage seven children were born. During all this 
time R-ecamier lived in neglect and apparent forgetful- 
ness of the factory girl whom he had married years 
before in Massachusetts, and who was then toiling to 
support herself and child. Fifty years ago, Recamier 
and his second wife both died. Ten years later their 
children, who had come into possession of the property, 
discovered among the effects, papers disclosing the 
fact of the first marriage, which made the second mar- 
riage illegal. They destroyed the papers and divided 
the property among them and went to work to find 
the factory girl’s boy, who was the rightful heir. He, 
your father, was killed at Gettysburg, and now they 


104 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

are searching for you, his child ; and my darling, your 
safety is in great peril.’’ 

His tones were low and husky, hut he continued : 

When I am dead, cling closely to Guido, he knows 
how to protect you, and your security is in his power. 
He will some day tell you how this is. In that small 
trunk are your proofs to this inheritance ; the^^ were 
given to me by the deserted woman. After Recam- 
ier’s death she married a wealthy Southern planter ; 
she gave to her abandoned boy the name of her second 
husband; which was Hiram McPherson. She died im- 
mediately, or a few weeks after her boy was killed. 
You were born after your father’s death, and your mo- 
ther died in giving you life. She was my sister, our 
brother was with her during her illness ; after her 
death he brought you to me, and I carried you to your 
grandmother from whom I learned these facts. When 
she died I again took you, and taught you to believe 
me to be your father.” 

His feeble tones ceased and Murillo was very still, 
but he felt her tears dripping on his hollow cheeks. 

^^My precious child, death has no pangs except 
leaving you so utterly desolate, and so young, to be 
adrift in a world peculiarly dangerous for you.” 

Father, feel not uneasy concerning me. The same 
God who clothed the lilies of the vallej^ will guide my 
trusting soul into stainless paths of security. He 
steers the wandering swallows through trackless 
realms of space ; will He not watch your trusting 
orphan waif ? Father, His strong arm will protect me, 
and His mighty hands will deliver me from wicked 
enemies. In Heaven with God yon will know how 
faithfully He guards 3^our homeless wanderer. Father, 
you know that God never turns traitor to those 
who trust Him ; He is mightier than all human power 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


105 


and He alone is sufficient to del iV'er me Irom all dan- 
g'er. But death, to me, seems so strang*ely hard 
and — ” 

My child, it is one of His wisest decrees. The 
body is only a hindrance to perfect communion with 
the eternal Spirit, therefore as death removes this 
hindrance it is to be desired rather than feared. Death 
is the result of the constitution of all org-anized' 
being-s ; the vital energies by which the circle of 
actions and reactions necessary to sustain life at 
length declines, and finally becomes exhausted ; death 
comes as a wise deliverer from this worn-out condition 
and conducts the immortal soul into a higher, renewed 
existence.” 

“ Father, the young energies are paralyzed, and 
even infants are stricken.” 

True, but the young would never die except from 
an infringement of the organic law ; according to the 
soundest view which I am able to obtain of the natural 
law, pain and death during youth and middle age, in 
the human species, are consequences of departure from 
the Creator’s laws, while death in old age, by insensi- 
ble decay, is an essential and apparently indispensable 
part of the system of organic existence. Organized 
beings live as long as health and vigor continue, but 
they are subjected to a process of decay, which 
impairs gradually all their functions, and at last ter- 
minates in their dissolution. In the animal kingdom 
we discover that the same fundamental principle 
prevails. Death removes the old and decayed, and 
the organic law introduces in their place the young, 
the gay, and the vigorous, to tread the stage with 
renewed agility and delight. If all the vegetable and 
animal productions of nature, from creation down- 
wards, had grown, attained maturity, and there 


106 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


remained, the world would not have been capable of 
containing the thousandth part of them ; so that, on 
this earth, decaying and dying appear indispensably 
necessary to admit of reproduction and growth. 
Under the fair and legitimate operation of God’s 
organic laws, the individual whose constitution was at 
first sound, and whose life has been in accordance witli 
their dictates, will live till old age fairly wears out his 
organized frame, and then the pang of expiration is 
little perceptible.” 

Father, how can the institution of death, as the 
result of organic law, be reconciled with benevolence 
and justice ? To have lived at all, seems as if it would 
confer the right to continue to live.” 

Theologically death is regarded as a punishment of 
sin ; no creature can sin but man ; science has estab- 
lished by irrefragable evidence, that before man was 
created death prevailed among all organic creatures. 
Man marks the climax of organic evolutions, and suc- 
cessive deaths evolved him, through countless ages, to 
his present condition ; without death there could be no 
evolution, without evolution there could be no higher 
forms of existence. The same evolutionary law pre- 
vails in morals ; from the decay of man’s animal na- 
ture evolves a noble, pure, moral one. Reall}^ death to 
the pure in spirit is the greatest blessing. For me it 
has no pangs, but for the separation from you, my pre- 
cious child. I have tried to so live that my deeds 
would be safe guides for your stumbling feet. I have 
strong faith in your incorruptible nature and firmly 
believe that our parting is only through a brief span 
of time- woven years ; death will finally set you adrift 
from the shores of time, and on the tideless sea of 
great eternity we will never again be separated. Trust 
and obey the laws of God, and we will meet, beyond 


Severed at Gettysburg. 


lOf 


doubt, in that city of eternal rest. The parting* we 
must bear with calm resignation.” 

He paused, for a long time closed his eyes while the 
dying radiance of the west lingered over the peaceful 
features. 

‘‘ My child, death gives birth into a higher existence, 
therefore it is an essential blessing. Science has dis- 
covered, that through God’s vast universe harmony 
is preserved by antagonistic forces. By them the 
earth is hung upon nothing and sent whirling through 
limitless space. The animal and vegetable kingdoms 
derive their powers from the harmony of their discord ; 
for each lives by undoing the work of the other. The 
crust of the earth is the scene of ceaseless conflict be- 
tween the internal and external forces. The volcano, 
earthquake, and immeasurable power of internal heat, 
lift up the crust, while, the everlasting, quiet action 
of air and water wear it down. Thus life and death 
by their antagonistical powers, preserve harmony 
throughout God’s myriads of worlds; from decay 
springs reproduction; from death comes the resur- 
rection into a higher life.” 


CHAPTER XV. 

Two weeks later Marcus Lawrence lay on his dying 
bed ; his eyes were growing sightless in death, but 
they were turned upon the face of Murillo ; she knelt 
at his side and encircled his neck with her arms ; feebly 
his breath came, and she heard<*him pray in low whis- 
pers : 

God pardon my sins and be a father to my orphan.” 

Then the last flickering light of life went out and 


iOS SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG^. . 

Murillo was alone with her dead. Alone on the 
breakers of a wide- world ocean with no unerring* com- 
pass to guide her upon its howling' deeps. Her cheek 
pressed his with the dumb agony too intense for utter- 
ance. For long, Aveary years he had Avrestled and 
toiled without recompense or recognition. One great 
book he had had published, but the honor had been 
stolen from him ; his body had grown weary from pov- 
erty and suffering, when his just deserts Avould have sus- 
tained him in comfort, and he died making no moan 
Like Bacon, Galileo, Milton and Albertus Magnus, he 
too had to pay the penalty of standing upon the shores 
of time in advance of his period. The humanity of his 
day was below him ; his intellect, moral sublimity and 
genius carried him far in advance into unexplored 
realms, as a prophet to guide his people as did Moses 
lead the Israelites from Egyptian darkness into the 
sunlit land of Canaan. But it seems hard that a feAv 
should be the burdened plowmen in the Stubblefields of 
life, Avhile a multitude of gleaners come afterward and 
reap the rich harvest. Such is life, some sow to-day 
and distant generations glean the golden grain. 
Broad bands of yelloAv light fell from the sunset and 
lingered in hoty quiet OA^er the hushed, rigid features of 
the dead ; they touched AAuth a radiant glory the cold, 
sculptured ones of the orphan Murillo. 

Benjamin F. Jonas and Meredith Legrange had 
noiselessly entered and now looked upon the cold, mo- 
tionless features of father and child. Her arms en- 
circled the still form and her face pressed the marble 
cheek. There, face to face, heart to heart, they had 
held their last earthly communion. Legrange gently 
laid his hand on her head, but she made no sign of con- 
sciousness, for she was stilled Avith that dumb elo- 
quence of grief far too deep for utterance. In that 


SEVERED AT GETTtSBTJRa 109 

hushed agony the poor, common words of courtesy are 
such a very mockery ; and the bruised heart finds its 
relief in silence ; when death robs us of our treasured it 
seems a sacrilege that all nature is not calmly, sacred- 
ly still ; innocent birds should hush their joyous songs 
and even the sunlight should not play. We are 
crushed, dumb, and all things should harmonize with 
our grief. Strange, sad thoughts passed through the 
minds of these noble, kind men as they looked upon 
the dead ; the calmed features, stilled proportions and 
death in the clustering hair. Here they were power- 
less ; they could influence the living and lash the hu- 
man passions into a fury of storm, and then quell with 
a master-stroke of statecraft, but in the realm of death 
no human hand could motion back the grim messenger; 
no human ingenuity could bribe a delay from the iron- 
willed, inexorable tyrant ; no human Angers can gather 
together the fragments of the golden bowl shattered by 
thy mighty hand, oh Death ; no human power can drive 
back the black camel, death, that kneels once at each 
door, and some poor mortal must mount to return no 
more. 

Murillo, you can do your father no good ; come, 
child, cheerfully with me. I will try to fill his place 
toward you.” 

He received no answer. 

Until to-day I did not know that your father was 
dangerously ill, and immediately hastened to render you 
assistance. Why did you not let me know his con- 
dition ?” 

Still no reponse or motion of life and Mr. Jonas 
placed his hand upon her head, and with the com- 
passionate kindness of a warm, generous heart spoke. 

Little girl, your life has been darkened, but our 
genuine friendship shall try to brighten it.” 


110 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

Her face was immutably calm, and her lips were 
dumb with contihued silence. 

‘‘ Legrange, she must be removed to your home. 
I will remain and prepare the body for burial. Send 
a servant to assist me.’’ 

Lcgrange lifted the frail body in his strong arms, 
and turned to leave when Mrs. Crist entered. 

“ Oh, sir, is her father dead ?” she asked compas- 
sionately, for her heart was tender and noble as ever 
beat in a human breast. ‘‘ What do you intend doing 
with our darling orphaned Murillo?’ 

Take her to my home.” 

Sir, you are exceedingly kind, but you are a stran- 
ger to her, and I have known her from almost baby- 
hood ; they have lived in the garret of my residence 
for several years. Take her down to my room.” 

No, madam ; a servant, on my way up, informed 
me that you have a child dangerously ill ; you must 
already be burdened, and under the circumstances 
it is best for me to carry her to my home. She 
seems prostrated and may herself become ill. I have a 
niece residing with me who will comfort and care for the 
child. I shall always protect and provide for her, and 
as near as possible fill her father’s place.” 

Thank God, she has so generous a benefactor. May 
he recompense your nobility.” 

Madam, I desire no reward ; every good deed brings 
to the actor its own recompense.” 

A servant had come to assist Mr. Jonas. Mrs. Crist 
followed Murillo and Legrange to the carriage. Ten- 
derlj^ she kissed the mute lips and Legrange ordered 
the driver : 

To my residence.” 

When it reached his stately residence ; he lifted her 
in his arms and carried her into the room of his niece* 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Ill 


The large house was silent and its occupants were no- 
where visible. 

Who is this uncle ?” inquired his niece, Shirley 
Legrange, the daughter of his missionary brother. 

“ He placed Murillo on a lounge and replied : 

young orphan girl; to-night she is under your 
especial care. I need not request you to bo gentle and 
considerate.” 

“I understand ; but where are you going ?* 

Back to the saddest duty which has ever fallen to 
my lot. Is Mrs. Legrange at home ?” 

*^No, uncle, she is attending the White House 
reception. Must you go, it is bitter cold ?” 

It is freezing, but a man should not fail in such a 
duty, no matter the disagreeableness.” 

He kissed his niece, left the room and drove back to 
keep watch over the dead; and looking upon the 
pinched sharpened features he said : 

Jonas, the rich and opulent will have a terrible 
account of neglected duties to settle with a God of 
justice, in their too often contemptuous and cruel 
treatment of the poor. I can never forgive myself ; a 
few hundreds would have rendered him comfortable, 
and have kept off starvation, and have prolonged a most 
noble and useful life. It is just that Lazarus like in 
Heaven, they look across the dark abyss and see in 
perdition the negligent rich, who denied them 
crumbs. 

You reproach yourself too severely.”, 

can never forgive m^^self, for I should have 
supplied his scanty wants. I would not . have missed 
the required sum. That poor child, how nobly she 
toiled to protect and support him, while I let him 
die of neglect.” 

ft I regret the circumstance deeply, but knew nothing 


112 


SEVERED AT 0ETTYSBUR(3. 


of his condition until you informed me ; unfortunately 
we came too late, and I shall try and make atonement 
to the dead, through kindness to his orphan.’’ 

A mission rarely fulfilled by mortals; one that is 
fugitive, mocking and eludes our grasp. We cannot 
restore the father to his child; too late, but timely 
assistance would have saved his life. Oh, it is a shame- 
ful thing to humanity, to be so entirely bound up in 
self as to carelessly forget that a creature brother is 
starving. W e can destroy, or we can permit to happen, 
what we might have prevented, but let it occur, and 
the soul may labor futilely through the length of 
weary years to upbuild or restore. life once extinct 
comes not back ; deeds once done are ineffaceably cut on 
the rocks of time. These few sheets of scattered 
manuscript indicate very great genius.” 

The door opened and a stranger entered and sat down 
near the shrouded form. For several minutes there 
was a dead silence. Then Legrange asked : 

Sir, what is it you wish ?” 

The stranger neither looked up nor replied. His 
head drooped upon his hands and he seemed in deep 
sadness. Again there was a long continued, oppressive 
silence ; during which the stranger drew the sheet from 
the covered face and mournfully gazed upon the rigid 
features. The stranger’s face was full of deep agony 
and remorse ; gently he drew the shroud back in its 
still proportions, rose sadly and left the room. 

What signifies that ?” inquired Mr. Jonas. 

I have not the least idea.” 

And a long time after the burial^, Legrange remem- 
bered that mysterious personage. 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURO. 


113 


F 


i 

f 

i- 


CHAPTER XVI. 

‘‘ Uncle Meredith, I believe Murillo’s grief will petrify 
her. Since you brought her to me that night she has 
scarcely spoken, and I treat her gently as an infant. 
Her two friends, Mrs. Huntly and Mrs. Crist, visit her 
frequently. They arc such noble Christian ladies.” 

"" Do you think that Mrs. Legrange knows of Muril- 
lo’s being here ?” 

I believe she does not, uncle.” 

‘‘ Shirley, when I am compelled to be absent, I want 
you to never leave Murillo alone.” 

She looked up at him curiously. 

Do as I request and some day I will explain why.” 

You have only to express your desire, dear uncle, 
and it shall be executed ; but how about my lessons 
and music?” 

‘‘ I will employ teachers to instruct you at your home; 
you and Murillo must be taught together.” 

Uncle, she is well educated, far more advanced than 
I am. Murillo’s father instructed her regularly for 
many years. Mrs. Crist informed me, they lived in 
her garret and she has been exceedingly good to them, 
as much so as she was able, for she had a family to 
support and her husband, though a minister, is the 
meanest wretch on earth, and instead of aiding the 
noble mother in providing for the children’s livelihood 
he tries to force her to surrender to him the money she 
earned as a music teacher.” 

Little champion, how did you learn all this ?” 


114 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

I receive Mrs. Huntly when she visits Murillo, and 
in our conversations she related these facts. Mrs. 
Huntly knows them well, she either resides near to 
Mrs. Crist or in the same house. How long will you 
be absent, uncle?” 

I fear several days. I will leave late this evening, 
but will be detained in the Senate chamber until the 
hour to depart, so I will not return home to-night.” 

Murillo wishes to see you before your departure.” 

Will you go to my room and pack my valise while 
I go to Murillo ? Shirley, please direct John to carry 
it to the Baltimore and Ohio depot,” he called back 
as he paused a moment on the threshold. 

He found Murillo seated in a low rocker, her head 
rested against its back, and the rich, crimson velvet 
threw the noble, pale features into strong relief. The 
exquisite face was calm and passionless, few could 
have told that she suffered. He paused by the low 
mantel , her eyes were closed and she was not conscious 
of his presence. He was an acute reader of human 
faces, and in this regal countenance, he saw’ the 
courage and noble virtues that gave to Roman wmmen 
their hardihood and grandeur of character ; in this face 
he read the sublimest nature that he had ever seen 
speak through features. 

“ Murillo, do you wish to tell me good-bye? ” 

He sat near and took her slender hand in his. 

I regret that you are compelled to be absent.” 

So do I, dear little friend, but I will return as soon 
as possible.” 

Mr. Legrange, I have some valuable documents be- 
queathed me by father. Will you take personal charge 
of them until I reach maturity ?” 

I will.” 

They are in that iron trunk; it is a miniature one, 


g^iVEREir) AT ^ETTYSBt7li(J. 115 

&;nd you can easily lock it in security. I have reasons 
to believe that it is not safe with me.’’ 

He took it and moving towards the door, said : 

Murillo, come into my room and see where I de- 
posit the trunk.” 

When he had secured it under a strong combination 
'lock, she said : 

Thank you, no matter where I go it will be safe.” 

Keenly he gazed into her face and in its quiet deci- 
sion he saw that she would be guided by her own reso- 
lute convictions. Her nature, with its proud strength, 
would ever suffer in silence, and eagle-like alone in its 
own lofty aerie look upon its bleeding wounds. He too 
read that her nature was remarkably benevolent and 
he appealed to that faculty. 

Murillo, I have a great blessing to request of you; 
it is not an unselfish one, for the granting of it will 
give me infinite pleasure; I know such is not the high- 
est magnanimity, but I acknowledge to be a very selfish 
man.” 

Her eloquent eyes looked steadily into his and she 
replied : 

Suffering sharpens our mental vision, and I know 
that you are a generous, proudly strong man.” 

Then you weigh your opinion against the 
world’s.” 

It never saw your nobler inner life, it judges you 
by the hard statesman part it feels. Many of us live 
two entirely separate lives ; and in the deep solitude 
and sanctity of the soul’s penetralia the world’s eye 
never penetrates ; in them we live with God and hold 
communion with Him and our sublimer nature our 
spiritual part of self.” 

“ You are young to possess such wisdom.” 

‘‘The knowledge of childhood is frequently surer 


116 


Severed at Gettysburg. 


than that of matured years ; but I am nearly grown.*’ 
How so V’ 

Because it comes not from the higher faculties, but 
from intuition, and is as unerring as the instinct which 
steers the bird of passage across pathless seas to far- 
off Syrian citron groves or the spicy isles of blue Indian 
waters, then with the coming Spring the same instinct 
guides it back to the brown eaves where it had nested 
seasons before.” 

“ Murillo, have you lived much among many peo- 
ple ?” he inquired, watching her keenly. 

‘^Accompanied by Guido I have lived a great deal on 
the streets, among all classes of people, rich and in- 
digent, aristocrat and beggar, wicked and good. Ah, 
sir, I have been thoroughly drilled in the public schools 
of humanity. Poverty and experience, the two grimmest 
masters in this world, have been my teachers.” 

“ Dear little girl, let me take their place, and I will 
be more merciful than they ; live here and be my daugh- 
ter and Shirle3’’s sister, such are my desires.” 

“ Sir, with your keen insight into humanity, are you 
willing to take a street waif into your home as com- 
panion for your niece ? Do you not fear contamina- 
tion ?” ^ 

“ I do not ; it is this infallible penetration that, werei 
Shirley an angel, satisfies me I could find her no purer 
companion.” 

Her head drooped. 

“ Sir, the temptation is strong ; my life has been 
spent in poverty, toil and barrenness ; you offer me 
comfort, rest and luxuries of which I never dreamed ; 
ah, how yearningly the ideality of my nature has craved 
such surroundings, the noble masterpieces of antiqui- 
ty and the sublime creation of art, a library that would 
fill Carlisle's earthly Eden. You cannot imagine how 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. Il7 

powerful the temptation. It is useless to say that I am 
grateful, no words can express the shadow of my grat- 
itude. From almost babyhood I have earned my few, 
hard crusts, and cannot now be an object of charity. I 
will thankfully remain until I hear from Guido and 
then I shall go to live where he is.” 

‘ ‘ Murillo — 

She raised her hand imperiously. 

I know what you would say, but such were the 
instructions of father.” 

‘^However, you will remain until T return.” 

‘‘If nothing- prevents.” 

She looked up into his eyes and many, many years 
afterward he remembered their peculiar expression 
of calm resignation and firm resolution. He con- 
ducted her back to his library and there bade her 
and Shirle^’' good-bye. All through the marble build- 
ing floated the strains of the sweetest music, and as 
it drifted distinctly to them Shirley remarked : 

“ There is a grand reception or banquet here 
several times a week. Mrs. Legrange lives only for 
pleasure. But what makes you weep so passionately, 
dear Murillo.” 

She had bowed her head on her hands and the tears 
fell unrestrainedly. 

‘ ‘ Sacred music saddens me sometimes until I cry, 
but it is more from association, than any inherent 
quality in the piece,” continued Shirley. 

“ Such is what saddens me now. Kossi never com- 
posed that music. 

“ Who did ; any one you know ?” 

“ Yes.” 

“Who?” 

“A crippled companion with whom all my life has 
been associated, and one of the noblest creatures 


11^ SEVERED OETTYSBUM. 

and sublimest geniuses that ever came from Heaveii 
and fired a human brain. Together we lived on 
the streets, he selling papers and I fiowers.’' 

What crippled him 

Cruelty from a most inhuman wretch ; one day 
he sprang on the train to sell papers ; just as it began 
to move off, he ran out to jump to the ground, a man 
standing on the platform knocked him off, his foot 
caught under the heavy wheel and crushed it.” 

Merciful God, how cruel.” 

Shirley, you housed ‘in luxury, and surrounded 
with loving watchfulness, cannot conceive to what 
cruelty homeless outcasts are subjected, how miser- 
able and hard their lives.” 

Yes, but the all-searching eye of a just God ever 
watches His houseless waifs ; and the great, tender 
Shepherd, Christ, tempers the wind from His shorn 
lambs. Their day of retribution will come, and 
Dante and Angelo have never pictured the just 
torture such wretches will receive. Come, Murillo, 
I want to show you the paradise of Washington. It 
is rivaled only by the conservatory of the White 
House.” 

She had followed Shirley, and now it seemed as if 
the gates of Heaven had swung open. Warmth, 
fragrance, deep exquisite coloring of costly exotics 
made this scene enchanting. Ideality was the canvas 
and imagination the brush with which she had cre- 
ated such pictures of beauty. The golden sunset 
deepened the rich crimson of azaleas ; rimmed with 
bands of amber, luxuriant, dark-hued foliage; dyed 
with the purple of royalty, the tinting of velvet leafed 
pansies. In the center of the conservatory was a 
large, marble basin, into whose waters the silvered 
spray of a fountain rippled, its musical murmur, pat- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


119 


tering on rich, Eastern plants and green foliage, was a 
sweet lullaby for tired brains and weary hearts. The 
gentle rustle of leaves, the continued far-off echo of 
evening winds, deep, azure sky, singing birds, blue 
waters and lapping waves, are Nature’s angels upon 
whose rustling wings is borne the burdened soul far 
above the weight of materiality, and Peri-like the 
spirit may yet be forgiven, which brings to the eter- 
nal gates, the gift that is most dear to Heaven ; on the 
field of life’s warfare blood for duty shed so holy is 
that it must unbolt the crystal gates ; but holier far 
than even these drops the boon must be, that opens 
the gates of Heaven for man. 

** Poor race of man said the pitying Spirit, 

Dearly ye pay for your primal Fall ; 

Home flow’rets of Eden ye still inherit 
But the trail of the Serpent is over them all.” 

Vainly the Peri soars, bearing to heaven the pre- 
cious sigh of pure, self-sacrificing love,” it is not the 
boon that will open the crystal gate ; and wearily the 
Spirit wandered until upon Egypt’s burning sands 
wretched man bent his head in prayer, and in deep 
penitence 

** each nobler aim, 

And hope, and feeling, which had slept 
From boyhood’s hour, that instant came 
Fresh o’er him — and he wept, he wept. 
****** 

Joy, joy forever, my task is done. 

The gates are passed and Heaven is ‘ won.’ ” 

Murillo had sunk upon a rustic seat, under thick 
luxuriant leaf and scarlet bloom. Peri-like her wander- 
ings were ended and heaven was won. Is there no 
Eden uncrossed by the serpent? from the one east- 


120 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


ward of Ganges to this, the first into which her wan- 
dering feet had trod, ‘‘ the trail of the Serpent had 
been over them all.’’ 

Through the open doorway down into the crimson 
warmth of a marble hall, she saw standing closely to- 
gether Mrs. Legrange, and a tall, finely built man— 
a prominent Republican statesman. Opposite to them 
were tall Venetian mirrors, which faithfully reflected 
their faces ; along the hall were deep niches cut in tha 
marble wall and filled with statues, and alternating 
ones with porphyry urns, containing rare Eastern scar- 
let flowers. Murillo saw that they frequently glanced 
toward her, but she did not know they were in a con- 
spiracy against hei\ Between the sinking of one sun 
and the rising of another are the favorite executing 
hours of conspirators. Great golden stars and cluster- 
ing worlds had gathered in the purple Assyrian 
skies, when Beleses had seen in the red glare 
and deepening clouds the blood of Sardanapalus : 
slowly sets the sun, taking his last look of Assyria’s 
empire, and as it sinks the glory of that great 
nation sets forever ; dark velvet skies, studded 
with glittering stars hover over the traitors, Beleses 
and Arbaces, and on the entrance to the marble palace 
of voluptuous Sardanapalus, the Chaldean conspirator 
and star-learned priest planned the downfall of^ 
Assyrian glory. Yet, what is death, so it be but 
glorious ? ’Tis a sunset, and mortals may be happy to^ 
resemble the gods in decay.” Such is humanity from 
that arch conspirator, backward and forward through 
long buried ages, when man has ever desired and in- 
tended the execution of dark deeds, to his conscience 
struggling in the pangs of death, throws the sop — Do 
evil that good may come.” As in the death of great 
Caesar, noble Brutus reasoned, ''We all must die, 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 191 

’tis but the time and drawing days out that men 
stand upon.’’ Death would not cheat Caesar of but 
few years, and Eome would be delivered of her tyrant. 
So these conspirators reasoned, a street waif would be 
out of her miser3^, and the world rid of one more pau- 
per. Life was nothing to her — a beggar, and great 
benefit would result to others. 

Which one is the pauper ?” asked the statesman. 

The one with golden, curling hair.” 

For a moment he gazed steadily at Murillo. 

She is very beautiful,’’ he remarked. 

Which makes the prey more desirable — captured.” 

Don’t fail in your work, and my watch-dogs will 
hound her down this night.” 

They separated and she joined a party sauntering 
down the hall toward the conservatory’. A merry 
group paused near to Shirley and Murillo. 

Mrs. Legrange, when did your conservatory be- 
come a rendezvous for beggars ?” inquired the fashion- 
able aristocrat, who had feared contamination from 
Murillo in God’s house. 

What do you mean?” inquired madam. 

‘‘ Look !” and she pointed to Murillo, almost screened 
by drooping foliage. 

^^Mort de Bieu I it nearly paralyzes me. A pauper 
in my conservator}^ ; a degraded, contaminating beg- 
gar.” 

She called to a servant, saying imperiously : 

Put that thing on the street.” 

‘^Sit still, Murillo,” said Shirley, as she saw her 
companion rise. But she stood to her full height, and 
with ealm, haughty features and resolute commanding 
tone, she spoke : 

Don’t you touch me,” 


122 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


You insolent wretch turning to the servant, who 
had paused, she ordered furiously : 

Do as I hid you,’’ but John did not advance. 

“Madam, I positively will not; Mr. Legrange 
brought the poor creature here ; she is an orphan, poor, 
but nobly respectable. I await his orders.” 

She was speechless with mortification and rage ; she 
an empress, a czarina in her household, defied by beg- 
gar and servant. 

Murillo broke the silence. 

Madam, I leave, because I fear contamination ; I 
scorn to remain under the same roof with you.” 

Murillo, wait until uncle returns,” pleaded Shirley. 

But expostulation was in vain. When the stars 
were clustering in the violet skies, they watched this 
homeless wanderer. Pennsylvania avenue was bril- 
liantly lighted , but it was bitter cold . Throngs hurried 
to warm fires and cheerful homes ; she tried to find her 
way to Mrs. Crist. Searchingly she gazed into each 
countenance. An elegant gentleman approached ; his 
face was noble and sad ; wistfully she gazed into his 
eyes and a pleasant smile greeted her, and into the 
pocket of her wrap he dropped a handful of coin. He 
gave with the royalty of a prince ; and this generous, 
benevolent nature afterwards distinguished him as one 
of the noblest Presidents of the United States. 

“You give too liberally, Arthur.” 

“ Oh, no ; it affords me a world of pleasure,” he re- 
plied to his companion as they passed on. “ The child 
has a noble, beautiful face, and her eyes were so brim- 
ful of misery. God help the poor. I would have none 
suffer, if I could prevent.” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


123 


CHAPTER XVn. 

Murillo had never before been alone in the streets 
of Washington. Guido had always accompanied her, 
ani for a long time she passed familiar objects, but 
after awhile they became strange, the streets were 
dark, and night began to settle down; she entered a 
park, the chirp of little bird* seeking roost from the 
night and the sweep of winds through the cedar trees 
made her feel desolate and lost in a great city. She 
hurried through the park, and again reached the 
streets, but to no purpose. A policeman was not vis- 
ible, and the night was ebony black ; an intense soli- 
tude was in the dungeon darkness. A strange numb- 
ness stole through all her limbs, a peculiar faint dizzi- 
ness crept through her brain, but the stillness was 
broken by the swift tramp of feet behind her, and fear- 
ing danger she turned to elude any one who might fol- 
low and re-entered the park. Under the shadow of a 
bronze statue she fell utterly exhausted. The solitude 
was deep and unbroken, save the sleet rattling 
against the weather-beaten statesman, and the howl of 
the wild, mad storm as it moaned and bellowed 
through all the deep, boundless blackness stretching 
from earth to the heavens ; all else was very still — 
still as the starless inky skies above. A heavy stupor 
crept over her, and the cold «leet pierced her face, like 
a million of sharply pointed stilettos. A deadening 
quiet stole over her, and she had no desire to resist the 
sleep of peaceful death. The darkness was so intense 
that it seemed as if blocks of thick ebony marble eu- 


124 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


closed her on all sides. Through the deep solitude she 
heard peculiar low voices, different from the moan of 
the, wind in the leafless trees and solemn cedars ; 
then the storm- winds lulled, as if they had hushed in 
listening guardianship of the unprotected child. It 
was their stillness that rescued her, and who can den^^ 
that the great Storm Euler held these winds in the 
hollow of His hands to befriend and save this wander- 
ing orphan from peril ? for through the awful hush, 
she distinctly heard in low whispers : 

The girl came this way.” 

She could not hear the reply, for the wind rushed the 
answer from her. Then it again lulled. 

D n your scruples, you have performed fouler 

jobs than this for Sir statesman, and your conscience 
kept quiet. I informed him of your reluctance to come 
out to-night, hut he counted on your faithfulness and 
reckoned that remorse would not spoil the game.” 

What does he want with her ?” 

That is his business, ours to deliver her into his 
hands and receive our heavy dividends. Bah, are you 
going to turn woman and let conscience rob you of 
3^our manhood ?” 

^^Hist!” 

It’s only the wind ; is conscience making you a 
coward ?” 

''It creeps my flesh, for it’s almost human in its 
moan. Ben, I don’t like this sort of work ; seems like 
God has surrounded her in his wall of blackness to 
liide her from us. I can idfle Government departments 
and divide with our political dictator so long as he se- 
cures the favorable situations and remunerates liberally, 
but this job seems the undecent work of banditti, or 
any common outlaw.” 

" Devil take your scruples,” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


125 


Ben, stealing from the Government is different 
work.’’ 

‘‘ What, are you going to fail after our hard manoeu- 
vering to get rid of your hoy Guido ; for years he 
baffled us. If he returns we will never again have 
this opportunity. Are you going to let conscience 
defeat us after all these years of watching and schem- 
ing?” 

Ben, the night her father died I went and looked 
at him, and over his dead body I swore that I would 
not harm his helpless orphan, and I will keep that 
oath. It is cowardly, dastardly to track down a 
powerless, unprotected girl; were it a man, or even a 
boy, it would be less devil-like.” 

Then you refuse to help me ?” 

‘ado.” 

“D — n you, I’ll finish the business, and report to 
headquarters; your employment and government funds 
will stop.” 

Ben James can have me discharged if he desires, 
but his lips are mute, for in exposing me he convicts 
himself. Partners in stealing from ‘ Uncle Sam ’ 
can’t afford to squeal against each other.” 

Murillo heard feet stumbling against the granite 
steps leading up to the statue. Soon a cold hand 
touched her head, but with the fleetness of a deer she 
wrenched herself from the clutch and fled through the 
blackness, and the winds in their mercy howled 
furiously and drowned the tramp of her rushing feet. 

In passionate rage, he sprang down the steps, but 
lost his footing and fell to the ground. 

D n the winds, I cannot tell which way she has 

gone.” 

“ Ben, God will never deliver her into your hands j 
He is mighter than you or Ben James,” 


126 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG, 


In an instant he was on his feet, but knew not which 
direction to take. 

‘‘Hist, Ben; I tell you I hear some one; it is the 
tramp of heavy feet.” 

They listened breathlessly ; and they heard 
Legrange direct poKcemen, some to search the park, 

others to go down street. They tarried no longer 

than their swiftly flying feet could carry them. It was 
far past midnight in Washington. Intense, thick 
blackness enveloped all things. A deep snow lay on 
the ground. It was a wild stormy night; bitter cold, 
moonless and starless. There was no sign of life in the 
narrow alley, no living thing near except one figure 
that moved through the gloom. His foot struck 
something soft and yielding. The form lay prostrate 
upon the steps of a mansion; the snow was drifting 
steadily down, it covered her hands and lay thick upon 
her long unbound hair. A lamp burned above the 
still form, throwing a dull, reddish glow over the match- 
less features in their calm rigidity ; each was markedly 
outlined against the snow-covered stone, as if it were 
chiseled from Parian marble. He poured some brandy 
between her stiff lips; wrapped warm blankets around 
her, lifted her into his strong arms and staggered 
through the darkness. At a certain corner he had left 
a carriage waiting for him, and he now sought it ; 
he was a stranger to this part of Washington and 
wandered on without knowing his surroundings. No 
creeping thing was near ; there was intense solitude in 
the cheerless night, the snow drifted noiselessly down, 
and black winds roared high, and howled with deep 
hollow moans. He was alone with Murillo in the black- 
ness of a starless Winter night. Once he paused under 
a street lamp, administered more brandy and noted 
that the calm, statesc^ue features were relaxing, and a 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


127 


Returning warmth indicated life. The sight of that 
lofty countenance aroused strange sweet memories of 
buried long ago ; hours of fresh Autumn mornings 
gilded with the glories of pure, girlish devotion; hours 
when they had wandered through deep, cool English 
woodlands, “with the whirr of a pheasant’s wing 
through the reddening gold of the leaves,” of breezy 
restful da^^s when in childish glee they had sailed in 
their Summer boat over cool brown waters. A weary 
sigh crossed his lips and memory traveled still back- 
ward to one picture named “ Divided.” 

The deep hued tint of an Eastern sunset kindled 
warm this scene, wherein two hearts were severed, and 
two 

“ Waved their hearts in a mute farewell 
And wandered apart forever.” 

He had left the lamp far behind him and again the 
alley was inky dark, He heard low whispers in 
threatening angry tones and thought only thieves 
would be out on such a night, but a woman’s low moan 
broke the stillness and he paused to render her assist- 
ance and distinctly he heard : 

“ I am determined to have the girl; you can induce 
her to visit you and then deliver her into my hands.” 

“Bennie, all the legions of perdition could not drive 
me to aid you in so infamous a work.” 

“ The dividends will be thousands.” 

“No matter, if they filled, packed all the distance 
between earth and heaven.” 

“ D — n you, you shall bring her here to-morrow 
night. ” 

“ I will not. I am your wife, your partner in good, 
but not in evil ; and on praying knees I shall this night 
thank God, that He delivered her from you and Ben 
James. Though prominent in the nation, he is a foul 


128 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


monster, and curses and corrupts more men and sinks 
them deeper into degradation than the prayers of 
man3" wives can redeem. Under his demon influence 
you have fallen very low ; is all honor dead ? ’’ 

“ D — n it, I did not come here to listen to woman- 
ish squealing. I want the girl, and you shall cajole 
and induce her to come here to-morrow night.’’ 

So help me God I never will. I will protect her, 
though it cost me my life. Can it he that you have 
fallen so low ? When you entered his service 3^0 u were 
an honorable man, you whom I loved to idolatiy; can 
it be that he has so degraded you ? Great God, can 
such things be ? Would my children and I had found 
our grave before this infamy had been crushed upon 
us ; our names once stainless now steeped in dis- 
honor.” 

The man made no reply and the mournfully pleading' 
tones of the woman continued : 

I prayed and implored you to disdainfull3^ reject 
his first glittering but infamous scheme. When man 
slackens his hold on the reins of honor, Satan rushes 
him headlong into blackest, deepest ruin ; but with 
the merciful pardon of God, and by arousing his dying 
conscience, he can again grasp firmly the reins, tight- 
en them and check the sweeping, downward rush. 
Once more he can stand squarely on the Bock of Ages 
and triumphantly look down into the blackened yawn- 
ing abyss that did not engulf him. Just so sure as 
there is a God of justice retribution will come ; man 
may prosper through long 3^ears of evil ; for a time 
flourish like a green bay tree, but his sins overtake 
him; he may flee to the utmost corners of the earth, 
but the all-searching eye of God overtakes him, and 
consumes him in the fire of His wrathful justice.” 

‘^Mar\% it is too late now; bod3^ and soul are forfeit- 


Severed at Gettysburg. 


129 


ed if I fail in my pledged allegiance to Benjamin 
James. The work he exacts of me is more infamous 
than even you can imagine, but his influence secures 
me employment; in return I execute his schemes to 
rob the Government. His grip is such that I cannot 
shake it off. I am body and soul his slave and it is too 
late.’’ 

“ ‘No, my husband, never too late to wrench your- 
self from the clutch of Satan, and place your soul in 
the hands of God. Nothing can save you, unless you 
rouse your dying manhood and help God to deliver 
you from temptation, by your own earnest determined 
efforts to become better. Shun Benjamin James as 
you would the poison of an adder; he does not care 
whether you prosper, any further than your interest 
advances his a thousand fold. He dupes you by con- 
vincing you that certain schemes will promote your 
welfare, but underneath lie his own personal ambitions 
to be accomplished.” 

‘‘ And his hold upon me is such, that the day I 
refuse to execute his instructions, the fangs of the law 
fasten on me. The priest of Apollo was never more 
firmly bound in the serpent’s coils than I in the power 
of this great but corrupt Republican statesman. ” 

Tear yourself from him and we will leave Wash- 
ington and escape to some secure place, where he can 
never find us.” 

Too late, Mary; there is a certain stage in guilt, 
that when man has reached it, he cannot turn back ; 
events and consequences of past deeds have combined 
their forces against him and he is driven against his 
inclination. The safe way is never to enter into temp- 
tation, and I would to God that I had have heeded 
your wisdom, and have never accepted his first temp- 
tation ; but to me his seductive representation seemed 


130 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


not so far wrong, and not knowing that a multitude of 
other infamous schemes were to follow I yielded to the 
first and thus put myself into his power. Man some- 
times is not master of his fate, hut is driven hy the 
strong combination of circumstances.” 

Bennie, my faith in you is not all dead ; I believe 
you do much evil against which your better nature 
rebels. Promise me that from this night you will 
never again make an effort of wrong against that un- 
protected child. Be man enough to do no such cow- 
ardly act ; if you must do evil, at least, let it not bear 
the stamp of sneaking cowardice.” 

I have sworn to steal her, and deliver her into his 
hands.” 

' ‘ Better to break an oath to do wickedness, than to 
actually commit evil that will result in everlasting in- 
jury to the helpless and innocent. You have daugh- 
ters, and may be the same wrong you intend against 
that child, will befall them ; the crimes of a parent are 
frequently hurled with crushing destruction upon a 
guiltless son or daughter.” 

- With the keen prescience of a phrenologist she 
touched a strong trait in his nature. Men are not en- 
tirely corrupt ; parallel witlu many evil propensities 
run firm, noble elements of character, and circum- 
stances and human influences that are favorable to 
the development of either the evil or good, frequently 
sway man in either direction. Slowly he answered : 

I will never injure that helpless girl.” 

“Where did you leave her; this night I have 
tramped every corner and secret place to which I 
thought you would probably conduct her.” 

“If you had found her in my possession?” he 
asked. 

“ I was going to wrest her from you or die in the 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


131 


strugg-le. I was going- to put the police and law to 
unearth your injuries to her.” 

Legrange saved you the trouble. It is a mystery 
liow he happens to always come to her rescue. He 
and Guido seem specially inspired and commissioned 
from an all-wise God, to protect her. What noise is 
that?” 

Legrange heard the light, swift movement of hurry- 
ing feet. ^ 

“ Is it you, Mrs. Huntly ?” Legrange inquired. ‘‘ I 
thought I recognized your voice.” 

Yes,” she returned. •^Have you Murillo ?” 

‘‘I have.” 

Then follow me ; we are near to Mrs. Crist’s 
house.” 

For some time they stumbled through the dark soli- 
tude, but at last arrived at Mrs. Crist’s. They did all 
that tender, benevolent, human hearts could suggest to 
revive the almost unconscious child. To her it had 
been an awful night of terror. They watched her until 
she rested in the calm, sweet repose of slumber. When 
perfectly conscious and the next morning aroused from 
refreshing sleep, Legrange bent over her and said : 

‘‘ Murillo, I am waiting to carry you back home.” 

No, sir ; her roof can never again shelter me.” 

‘ ‘ Murillo, the house is my property ; she mortgaged 
it heavily ; I purchased it, and it is now my individual 
property.” 

It matters not who owns it, I can never return to 
the house where your wife resides. Thank you. Senator 
Legrange, but I shall take my destiny into m^^ hands 
and with God’s help do the best I cg-n. I earnestly de- 
sire that you securely guard the iron box I left with 
you. If I disappear and during two years you. learn 
nothing of me, open it and examine the contents. How 


132 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


did you know I had left your house ? I thought you 
had gone from Washington.” 

In great haste Shirley hurried to the depot and for- 
tunately found me there and immediately I began 
search in the direction she saw that you had taken.” 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

Murillo for two years had lived with Mrs. Crist, 
earning her living by hard manual labor. Mrs. Crist 
allowed her five hours for attendance at the public 
school of that neighborhood. Her remarkable intel- 
lect, close application and diligence combined had 
caused her a wonderful advancement. Every day she 
was accompanied by Mrs. Crist’s two^mung sons, bo^^s 
younger than Murillo and both gifted with keen intel- 
lects. Guido had returned to Washington and she saw 
him daily. To-night she and Mrs. Crist sat alone ; the 
boys had retired, and Mrs. Crist drawing her chair 
nearer the latrobe inquired, ‘‘Are you not afraid of in- 
juring your health by such ceaseless hard study ? You 
allow yourself no time for recreation.” 

“ Manual exercise counteracts mental activity, and 
thus my health is preserved; for me hard work is 
a blessing ; it keeps my physical and mental machin- 
ery balanced. But I have not studied much to-night. 
I have been thinking of a human countenance I saw 
this evening in Corcoran’s Art Gallery. He was 
with ^ Senator Legrange and I do believe it was the 
noblest human faj e I ever beheld except Senator 
Legrange’s.” 

“Who was it?” 

“ Raymond said it was Senator Garland. It was 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


133 


fearless, honorable, commanding aM noble. Mrs. 
Crist, I do firmly believe that one thoroughly in- 
structed in phrenology can read human character 
unerringly; and every man and woman should be 
perfectly skilled in that science. It is a wopderful 
advantage to be capable of reading faces so correctly, 
that you can know to a certainty who is honest or 
dishonest, who is conscientious or who will swindle 
you. I believe it is the only system of moral science 
that intelligently and reasonably gives the causes 
of good and evil in man.” 

I have at last converted you,” smiled Mrs. Crist. 

Murillo, I am not so deeply a scientist as Madam 
Blavatsky ; but I know that humanity is composed 
of three ' classes ; one of mortals that are so rigidly 
honorable and conscientious, so far above corruption 
that temptations fall against them as harmlessly as 
a shower of cambric needles would upon a bronze 
statue. This class is not the majority. Another in 
which men are innately corrupt ; natural thieves and 
truly degraded that they do wrong from a strong 
inclination to do evil ; they desire sin ; their heads are 
flat where the moral faculties should be ; the head is 
broad and low, and the men are just as the head m- 
dicates, devoid of moral faculties ; therefore they are 
degradedly vile. This class contains not the mass of 
humanity.” 

‘‘You believe these characteristics are inborn?” 

I do ; like produces like ; parents who are not 
conscientious, cannot by the Igiws of heredity, Darwin’s 
immutable law, which he has found controlling and 
character-stamping all creation, produce conscien- 
tious sons and daughters. In families where the 
mother is conscientious, and the father unscrupulous, 
y’e find children distinctly inheriting honorable traits 


134 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


from the mother, and dishonorable ones from the 
father ; then in the same family we see children that 
have struck a balance between the parents ; sons or 
daughters, or both that are not strongly conscientious 
or remarkably unscrupulous. Their inclinations for 
good or evil are nearly equally balanced. This is 
the middle and by far the larger class of humanity. 
They are easily swayed either way ; and if the force 
of human influence and combination of circumstances 
sweep them into either current the^^ drift with the 
tide whichever it is — good or evil. ^ It is only two 
and a half centuries since the bright lamp of Modern 
Science began to sfline on the darkness of the ignor- 
ance of the ages science is yet young, but its giant 
brain will penetrate humanity — that realm of good 
and evil — and instruct man how to keep the latter from 
being born in his offspring, and to free ourselves 
from the subjection of a sensuous existence ; to conquer 
the Titanic elements of sin in our terrestrial nature ; 
through the supremacy of science, morals and intellect 
will Anally rule. Purity, even in the secret longings 
of our hearts, is the greatest duty; and, for the sake of 
their unborn children, parents should control their 
animal passions, strengthen and develop their 
moral and intellectual nature until it becomes su- 
preme; it is a fearful sin to enstamp, by inheritance, 
an innate corrupt nature upon children, thus ren- 
dering them accursed to continue evil and strengtl^n 
the immoralities of their construction by a long life- 
time of practice; in their turn an increased degrada- 
tion is transmitted by the sure laws of inheritance to 
their children. A pure government founded on the 
principles of morality will sternly prohibit those 
things which have a tendency to cultivate the animal 
propensities of man ; these are chiefly monopolies; 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 

tariff that robs the poor man, grinds him under the 
heels of autocratic capital, and forces him to resort 
to foul means to knock hack, grim, gaunt starvation ; 
humanity seems the legitimate prey for the rohhcr 
monopolist and thieving Repuhlican protectionist. 
Their hands are gripping the throats of poor human- 
ity, squeezing out its life blood ; and together they 
legislate so as to still lirml^^ hold their clutch. Under 
the iron grasp of oppressive capitalists, the poor 
'wretch is compelled to spend all of his hours from 
before the dawn of one day until long after the close 
of another to provide for his animal necessities; thus 
he has no leisure for the cultivation of intellect and 
a high moral nature. Necessity often drives him 
into dark ways his inclinations would have never 
conducted him. God pity the parents that are so 
destitute that necessity forces them to deprive their 
children of educational advantages, because these 
young sons and daughters must assist in earning 
a scanty living ; having little opportunity to so cul- 
tivate their moral and intellectual faculties, that 
they may obtain supremacy. God pity those who 
are so reduced to a helpless condition of toil ; for 
their periods of labor are so long, and their remun- 
eration is so small, that starvation stares each of 
them in the face when they either relax from exer- 
tion or cease to live in combination. This evil grows 
greatly out of a burdensome taxation ; a system that 
fosters and protects capital and monopolies, and holds 
the poverty-stricken wretch under the grinding heels 
of oppression . A government founded on justice would 
never rob the masses to enrich a few. The government 
is a great criminal to so burden humanity as to exclude 
mental culture and moral and intellectual enjoyments, 
and supply their place by penury and labor. 


13G SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

“ Dr. Chalmers reports, that in our large cities whole 
masses of this class of people are living in profound 
ignorance and practical heathenism, The s^^stem 
tends constantly to increase the evils of which it is the 
source. Young persons, when they arrive at manhood, 
find themselves scarcely able to subsist by their indi- 
vidual exertions, whereas the assistance of three or 
four children often improves the condition ; necessity 
drives them to contract early marriages ; the children 
grow up and in their turn follow the same course, and 
from the neglected and unimproved moral and intel- 
lectual faculties, the children inherit weakened intel- 
lects and moral traits. Thus they frequently sink 
deeper into ignorance, and end their days in degrada- 
tion. God intends that religion, morality, and intelli- 
gence are to rule his creations, and rational govern- 
ments should legislate to destroy those systems which 
prevent the operations of His wise intentions ; but law- 
makers are too frequently ignorant of God’s natural 
laws; willing for the vast body of people to remain 
forever in a condition little superior to that of mere 
working animals ; not realizing that under this con- 
dition of things humanity is rapidly deteriorating. 
I am not an enem}^ to labor, it is beneficial to the 
whole human economy; but the great principle is 
that it must be moderate in both severity and dura- 
tion in order that men may have opportunity to 
cultivate their nobler instincts, propensities and fac- 
ulties ; otherwise God’s aims are ignorantly defeated, 
and political economy comes in conflict with His 
natural laws, and the result is anarchy. I repeat, 
that in the whole system of the education and treat- 
ment of the laboring population the laws of the 
Creator are neglected or infringed. Life with them 
is spent to so great an extent in labor, that their 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 137 

moral and intellectual powers are stinted of exercise 
and gratification, and mental en303^ments are chiefly 
those afforded by the animal propensities— in other 
words, their existence is too little rational ; they are 
rather organized machines than moral and intellec- 
tual beings. Under a system of labor so regulated, 
tliat men would earn necessities in such time 
as to daily leave them hours for education, there 
would be improvement in the organic, moral and intel- 
lectual capabilities of the race ; for the active moral 
and intellectual organs of the parents would tend to in- 
crease the volume of these in their offspring — so that 
each generation would start not only with greater 
stores of acquired knowledge than those which its pre- 
decessor possessed, but with higher natural capabili- 
ties of turning them to account. 

Excessive taxation is a powerful factor in thus sub- 
verting the natural laws of God ; namel}^, that moral- 
ity and intellect shall rule. Tariff increases the 
wealth of governments and capitalists, by robbing 
the masses and forcing them into continual toil 
to supply their requirements, leaving no opportunities 
for moral and intellectual developments; thus 
through centuries of deterioration he at last is little 
above brute creation — a sad victim to a most debas- 
ing and ruinous system. The government should 
have enough to pay its expenses, and not gather the 
honest earnings of the masses and enrich corporations, 
monopolies and moneyed nabobs.” 

^^Then, if the Creator has so constituted the world 
that men may execute all necessary business, and stili 
have time to i^pare for the cultivation of their rational 
faculties, any enactment of the Legislature calculated 
to facilitate arrangements for accomplishing both ends 


138 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


would be beneficial and successful, because it was in 
accordance with nature inquired Murillo. 

Certainly; as long as Legislature enacts in confor- 
mity with nature, the result will be successful. If it 
enacts in opposition to the natural laws, the result Is 
injurious to humanity, and almost total ignorance of 
these laws causes their violation. Man cannot reason- 
ably and intelligently conform to laws when he is un- 
acquainted with them.” 

‘‘If he does- observe them, it is a fortunate ac- 
cident.” 

“ It is. Darwin and George Combe have discovered 
a few rudimentary laws of the wonderful science of the 
mental and moral structure of man. BuL like all 
great prophets, they are in advance of their fellow 
creatures ; not being understood Darwin and Combe 
have few followers. It is the same old Galileo and 
Copernicus story. Another great cause of human 
degradation is alcohol. Science teaches that it gradu- 
ally but surely kills the mental and moral faculties of 
man, inflames his animal passions, strengthens all that 
is base in man, and destroys slowly but certainly all that 
is moral. It seizes men in each class of humanity; and 
in that one, Avhere men are rigidly honest, if it does 
not sink men into low degradation it weakens theii’ 
physical, mental and moral powers, and the}" transmit 
injured faculties to their children. In that class, com- 
posed of humanity in which good and evil are nearh" 
equally balanced, it inflames the base passions, and 
men who are honorable when sober, commit outrages 
that bring shame to themselves and friends. Duilng 
years of habitual intoxication it kills the good and in- 
llames the evil, and sends its victims to criminals’ cells, 
or hangmen’s gallows. In that class, composed of 
ui.'A in whom vileness is strong and innate, it makes 


SEJVERED at GETTYSBtJRG^. 1^9 

its victims more fiendish than Satan, and too frequent- 
ly newspapers ring' out the most terrible deeds of these 
degraded brutes. Now, if the great body of intelligent 
men in any State saw clearly that a course of action, 
pursued by the ill-informed of their fellow-subjects, was 
the source of continual suffering, not only to the evil- 
doers themselves, hut to the whole community, it ap- 
pears to me allowable that they should stop its con- 
tinuance by legislative enactment. This nation can- 
not stand with such a vampire sucking its best blood; 
now its revenue is greatly from the sale of liquor ; but 
this very income will at the end frustrate the aims of 
the government ; what appears to be its advantage, is 
slowly but surely undermining its support. Whatever 
degrades the people corrupts the nation, for the 
masses make the nation. If the same minute represen- 
tation were given of other departments in private life 
during the time of the greatest immoralities on the 
part of the government, we would find that this pal- 
tering with conscience and character in the national 
proceedings, tended to keep down the morality of the 
people, and fostered in them a rapacious and gambling 
spirit, to which many of the evils that have since over- 
taken us, have owed their origin. Changing the sub- 
ject, when did you last see Guido ?” 

To-day ; and he conveyed sad news.” 

«^What?” 

That he must return to New Orleans, this time to 
remain permanently.” 

"‘Will you go ?” 

“ I will be compelled to go ; father's last request was 
to cling to Guido, that I could have a natural protector.” 

For several moments a perfect silence fell between 
them, and the lamp-light flickered over their saddened 
faces, and Murillo continued : 


140 SEVERED AT GETTYSBtJRG^. 

I received to-day, a long kind letter from dear 
Mrs. Huntly ; she offers me a home with her, but I love 
you and your children, and regret to leave you. Here 
you give me the oppoi tunity of earning my living. I 
do not want to live by the charity of anyone. 1 hope 
to secure employment down there and — ” 

Murillo, your work in any family will ampl^^ 
recompense for your inexpensive requirement's. Dear 
child, if you ever become dissatisfied or in need of a 
home, you are welcome to return to mine. You are 
dear to me and I am glad to have you with me.’’ 

may not see Senator Legrange before I leave 
Washington ; will you bid him good-bye for me ?” 

I will. Have you noticed the death of his wife ?” 

When did it occur ?” 

Three days since.” 

‘‘She was cruel to me, but I have long since 
forgiven her. He is a noble, benevolent man, and if 
all public men were as honorable and rigidly incor- 
ruptible as Senator Legrange and Senator Garland, the 
Government would be purity itself.” 

“ Senator Garland is yet to be '’tested ; he is a ».ew 
Senator, wait until he has been tempted with political 
baits.” 

“If there is any truth in your wonderful science, 
temptations will triumphantly reveal great singleness 
of purpose and nobility. His eyes are earnest, honest 
and fearless ; mouth indicates firmness and practical 
decisions ; forehead, a powerful intellect, in which 
perception and close analytical, almost infallible 
reasoning predominate. A chin indexing strong, 
warm friendship ; a forceful, lofty character, pre-emi- 
nently ruled by a powerful intellect and morality. 
Far above corruption and bribery, he stands almost 
peerless, ‘for modern degeneracy could not reach him,’ ” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


141 


In you he has an ardent admirer.’’ 

I reverence moral and intellectual sublimity in 
whatever human creature it is found, therefore humble 
Murillo Lawrence honors Senator Garland ; and were 
he beggar instead of a great statesman, I would give 
him the same homage.’ 


CHAPTER XIX. 

It was evening, calm and almost still. The sun had 
kindled his evening fires on western altars,- and dull 
red flames leaped upward to huge cumuli masses firing 
them until they were hard, bright and metallic, like 
blocks of burning gold. Just above the tree tops the 
entire horizon was one long stream of liquid amber. 
On a wide rock ledge of Lookout mountain stood the 
young girl Murillo ; all her life she had been cooped up 
in narrow, dark alleys, and poverty-furnished garrets 
of Washington city; ideality and sublimity were 
strong elements in her nature and now her soul thrilled 
as she stood face to face with the glow of a mountain 
sunset ; it seemed as if the divine spark of immortality 
kindled her soul and it traveled on wings ethereal to 
the presence of Deity. Her face, beautiful and pale 
with intense feeling, bore the holiness of a great God’s 
benediction ; it was a wonder realm of revelation and 
sublimity, and appealed strangely to the grandeur of 
her nature, ^'he Egyptians were characterized for 
their ideality, it developing into the gloomy grandeur 
of their colossal pyramids and magnificent temples ; 
they were ever surrounded with objects of sublimity, 
boundless plains, trackless golden deserts, and vast 
vaulted starlit skies, under which they kept midnight 
watch of glittering numberless worlds. No Chaldean 


142 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

ever \vorshipped his golden star divinity as did thi^ 
young girl the sublimity of this mountain sunset ; her 
soul left the realms of time and earth and drifted 
through the trackless eternities of planet-swung 
space until it stood aw^e thrilled at the foot of Jeho- 
vah’s throne. The entire west was a huge conflagra- 
tion, greater far than that which once leaped up from 
an amphitheatre and blackened purple Roman skies, it 
lightening an ancient world ; for this now threw its 
glaring illumination over millions of square miles. 

The Roman Are was struck for the wicked gratifica- 
tion of one tyrant, but this of the western furnace 
burned alike for millionaire and beggar. The hand 
which handles the fires in the temple of the sun lights 
it for all pleasure-crowned and toil-burdened children 
of earth. Chattanooga nestled at the foot of the moun- 
tain like a Caspian swan bathing its snowy wings in 
the warm crimson sunset. She stood on the spot 
where a great battle had been fought ; and the fires of 
patriotism inherited from father and mother burned 
with intensity in their noble child, and to her the spot 
was holy; sacredly dyed in the crimson blood of heroes ; 
the blood of her race had been poured out here, and now 
her tears fell thick and fast, and she honored and wept 
for her kinsmen who had fallen, fighting with lion brav- 
ery on the field of death. Far and wide as her e^^es 
could reach stretched broad fields of waving grain; 
the merry whistle of the harvesters and the sharp 
ring of the scythes cutting the yellow sheaves made 
mournfully sweet anthems for the long-buried soldiers 
sleeping in heroes’ graves. Such is life : to-day we are 
under the solemn shadow of death, to-morrow the sun- 
light of foi-gotten griefs radiate the gloom ; for every 

“ Turf beneath her feet 
Had been a soldier’s sepulcher.” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


143 


“ Sleep, soldiers 1 still in honored rest 
Your truth and valor wearing ; ^ 

The bravest are the tenderest, 

The loving are the daring.” 

With paled cheeks, reverent heart, noiseless feet, 
and breathless awe she gazed over the sacred 
battlefield where friend and foe in one red 
burial had blent. Her soul thrilled with a strange 
yearning, the same heroism that had nerved 
those bands of Southern warriors to sternly, 
and fearlessly^ and calmly meet death and fall in a 
patriot’s grave. There is no higher moral sublimity. 
A blue line rimmed the tops of the Cumberland 
range, that bristled like rocky battlements on both 
sides of the river ; between these grim, granite guar- 
dians flowed the Tennessee river in a streaming liquid 
amber. It was Autumn and sunset ; Nature, the 
truest, the grandest artist, had painted the draperies of 
her mountain forests in warm, deep hued coloring ; 
she had that perfection of shading which comes from 
a mingling of dark, heavy Egyptian splendors with 
the delicacy and lightness of Grecian elegance. 
Where Murillo stood was a wide trackless forest ; the 
solitude was deeply intense, no sounds save the falling 
of a chestnut burr, or a rustling leaf drifting down- 
ward, or the low, evening twitter of wood-birds seeking 
their roost. In the gloom and silence of this natural 
cathedral, slept in eternal, unbroken glory, the patriots 
of Lookout battlefield. A cemetery of God-built 
grandeur most appropriate for such noble, lion-brave 
heroes. The giant trees were scarlet, brown, and now 
far in the distance flecked with clusters of bright 
yellow, and deep hued green. In the west the sacrifi- 
cial fires smoldering low; and the sun was sinking’ 
behind his altars as a huge, round ball of burning 


144 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


amber. Twilight, gray hooded, like a votaress 
in palmer’s weeds,” stole down the mountain slopes 
and held close communion with the cowled monks 
of the Cumherland brotherhood. Dark shadows 
gathered under the dense mountain trees and all the 
vast forest cemetery was shrouded in clustering, dark- 
ening gloom. She left the solitude of the forest and 
now stood far down the side of Lookout, on a wide rock 
ledge. Opposite to each other she discovered ' the 
curling trail of twcf smoke lines, and she knew that 
two trains rushed toward each other in perilous dan- 
ger. Oh, if they only knew,” she murmured ; and a 
strange light flashed into her large eloquent eyes ; a 
sublime heroism thrilled her lofty spirit, and paled and 
stilled her features to the rigidity of marble. There is 
no awe like that of moral sublimity, when self is 
conscious of its own fearless grandeur ; then it is that 
the strong soul, nerved with a lofty unfaltering cour- 
age, stills the human breath, and flashes in sparks of 
divinity from eloquent, spirit stirring eyes. Swift as 
a young chamois she had sprung down the mountain 
sides, and now stood on the track waving a scarlet 
scarf and signalling for the trains to run backwards. 
A curve in the track enabled many passengers to see 
from their windows, to the spot where the young girl 
stood. Legrange recognized the calm, noble features; 
the last lingering crimson rays of the sun threw her 
figure into strong relief, and revealed her face pallid 
and fearless. She stood on the edge of the track which 
spanned a deep abyss, frantically waving a scarlet 
scarf, then she pointed backward, and her meaning 
flashed upon them. Behind her came rushing the 
other train ; wildly she signaled to it to reverse its en- 
gine, but onward it came snorting and flying. A 
breathless horror stilled their breath, axad many closed 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


145 


their eyes to shut out the awful scene, as the car 
another instant would crush her into atoms. Calmly 
she kept her scarf waving until the train came on 
more slowly, and as it almost struck her, she sprang 
feet below into the dark ravine . The trains had checked 
their furious speed, and the collision was not sufhcient 
to cause a complete wreck by throwing them from the 
track. All attention was directed to finding the young 
girl. Legrange rushed to the spot where he had seen 
her leap over the precipice. Deep darkness had 
gathered in the ravine below, but with eager swift- 
ness he had himself lowered into the abyss ; downward 
he swung, until as a speck he was lost in the distance 
and darkness below. Anxious eyes peered after him, 
and agonized hearts waited for tidings of the brave 
girl who had perilled her life to rescue theirs ; 
the minutes passed and hung weighty ai; 
hours, but they brought back no tidings. Now they 
could no longer discover Legrange who, by the dull 
light of a lantern, groped and staggered through the 
darkness not knowing whither he went. U nnoticed by 
the eager, anxious passengers, a heavy, blue-storm 
cloud had begun to gather in the southwest, and swift 
as lightning speed, the terrific fury of a cyclone swept 
down; the mighty roar, howl and awful sweep of 
gigantic forces, raged in terrific madness. It struck 
the cars, hurled them from their track, and the shrieks 
and groans of wounded and dying were silenced under 
the wild, howling roaring of the all-powerful and con- 
quering rush of cyclone. Far below Legrange held 
Murillo in his arms ; closely and firmly he held her, 
awe-stricken at the mighty rush of the hurricane above 
him, the boom of conflicting elements, crash of timbers, 
wreck of cars, devastation of buildings, all mingled 
into one powerful, awful roar. The darkness w^/S so 


146 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


thick he could almost feel it pressing* against and upon 
him ; but above him he knew that trees, rocks, and 
human creatures were hurled through the impenetrable 
blackness. Never before had he felt so powerless. 
Human strength avails in the calm of a sunlit day, in 
the serenity of blue, star-studded skies ; but it is ut- 
terl^T- helpless against those silently operating, mys- 
terious powers of Nature when they rush to storm- 
driven fields of conflict ; it is only the hand of Omnip- 
otence that can sweep His realms of trackless, eter- 
nal space, and thunder His peace, be still. 

To Legrange the minutes passed heavily as burdened 
hours ; now and then a peculiar, savage snort struck 
terror to all living creatures, and the storm roared as 
if a wilderness of furious, untamed beasts howled and 
raged for their prey. He did not know Avhether Murillo 
was much hurt, or if she was conscious of the storm; 
she was motionless, his lantern had gone out, but now 
and then lurid lightning rent the heavens, and split its 
track through the thick blackness ; then he saw her 
face calm and ghastly rigid, either from terror or 
death, and more closely he pressed her to him. He 
did not loosen his clasp to find if her pulse beat ; he 
laid his cheek on her lips, and it seemed as if a faint 
warmth came from them ; a frail breath, pure as that 
of tender infant lips, and his heart pulsated with thrill- 
ing intense joy. 


CHAPTER XX. 

Murillo, do you feel better ?” 

She looked into his eyes wearily, attempted to reply, 
but a spasm of pain convulsed her features, and gently 
he leaned towards her. 


SEVERED At GEttVSBURO. l4? 

1 regret that I heeded your entreaties to start to 
Kew Orleans, and wish I had compelled you to remain 
longer in the house of those kind people. A few days 
more and you would have been sufficiently recovered 
to endure the motion and fatigue better.” • 

It was several days subsequent to the storm. 
Murillo was comfortably reclining on a seat in the 
Pullman palace car ; in front of her sat Legrange. 
Behind him sat Senator Jonas and Senator Garland. 

‘‘ Were many killed ?” she asked. 

The cyclone destroyed everything in its track, 
and many people were killed. Your wonderful hero- 
ism saved them from a train wreck, but they did not 
escape the storm. The exact number killed is not 
known. Murillo, how did you happen to be at 
Lookout?’’ 

‘ ‘ I was going to New Orleans ; at noon the train 
stopped near Lookout ; my uncle fought there, and I 
left the train to find the battleground, and intended to 
remain until the evening train came, along. It was 
from the side of Lookout that I saw approaching lines 
of smoke, and believed 'that a collision would occur. 
I thought of . the many passengers leaving loved 
ones, crushed and grief stricken ; parents, probably, 
who would leave helpless orphans; all rushiug un- 
consciously into eternity, while for them would mourn 
agonized relatives and friends. I am alone in this 
wide world ; few to grieve over m}^ death, and I 
thought that in perilling my life, to rescue theirs I 
would accomplish more good than I might do through 
long years of struggles. and temptations.” 

Legrange made no reply ; he held her little hands 
between his and bowed his face upon them ; for his lips 
were stricken dumb before such moral sublimity. She 
closed her eyes wearily and he gazed upon her noble, 


14^ SEVERED GETTYSDURrl. 

lovely features. She was now no longer a child, yet 
not a woman; her feet stood on that border-land, 
named girlhood, a narrow strip stretching between, 
warm-sunned, blue-skied, sweet-songed , fragr^nt- 
climed land of tropical childhood, and that mystic, 
level-plained, too often desert-barren region ot 
womanhood wherein mirages glimmer in the golden 
distance as silver-pictured oases of beauty and rest 
beneath fruit-laden dates and palms. But these are 
phantoms and are seldom reached. To him she was 
fair as Sappho, while yet love was unknown, and a 
child’s laughter amidst the roses of Ionia was only 
hushed now and then by vague, prescient dreams; 
she was fair as Heloise while yet only the grand 
serenity of the Greek scroll lay unopened before her 
eyes, and no voice beside her had taught a love mon* 
fatal and a mystery more mournful than the wise 
words Hellas.” She was very lovely, and the touch 
of her tender fingers sent a thrill through his strong 
nature never felt since the long shi’ouded years of 
buried boyhood. Passengers who were strangers to 
to him, thought his considerate, attentive gentleness 
was that of a father bestowed upon his daughter. 

Bending forward Senator Jonas enquired : 

‘‘ Legrange, does her suffering seem to be less ?” 

I think so, for she is now sleeping.” 

‘‘ Is her arm broken ?” 

Yes.” 

'‘I trust she will recover; for without sustaining- 
great loss, the world cannot be deprived of so trul.y 
noble a creature as she is. I, tod, have never since the 
surrender visited a battleground without feeling the 
deepest sadness. It is almost like standing over the 
graves of our treasured dead. Passion has died out, 
and mournful memories of the many brave soldiers 


SEVERED AT GETtYSBITRG. 


149 


that fell on the battlefield, fill our minds as we look 
upon the spot sacred from the baptism of humanity’s 
patriotic flood.’’ 

The features of this noble, brave man were eloquent 
in their expression of sorrow. 

The memories are painful ; yet no brave man can 
stand on battlegrounds where he once fought without 
feeling the thrill of patriotic exultation, that here he 
perilled life, and shed his blood for his country’s honor. 
The pleasure arising from a consciousness of having 
sternly performed his duty, somewhat palliates the sad 
necessity of having had to meet his fellow-man on the 
field of danger,” replied Senator Garland. 

A keen physiognomist would have correctly in- 
ferred from the magnanimity expressed by his fine 
features, that this man would cut straight to the line 
of honor and duty no matter whether he, himself or 
fellow-brother would thereby suffer. 

Legrange, who had taken no part in the conversation, 
arranged the pillow more comfortably for Murillo, and 
said : ^^It was inevitable; I mean the civil war, and 
the surrender,” and after a pause he continued : 

Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, had to sur- 
render. The proud city was doomed. Her best soldiers 
had died on her battlefields, or were starving in North- 
ern dungeons. Her treasury empty ; her armies ])rok(Hi 
and reduced to a handful of famine-crushed patriots 
still ready to be .slaughtered by the overpowering 
North. With the energy of the noblest patriotism, 
and the granite determination of an exalted heroism 
the South had dragged out the unequal contest ; the 
fire of superior bravery had made the Southern soldier 
victor on many a battleground. But the billions of the 
Union treasury overbalanced the exhausted one of the 
Confederacy ; the thousands of well supplied Federal 


150 


{SEVERED AT GETTYSBUM- 


Soldiers, outnumbered the weak, shattered, starving 
spartan braves of the South. The large armies and 
full resources of the Korth had ever been balanced 
by the superior bravery of the Southern soldier, and 
the superior field strategy, superior generalship, and 
superior military genius of Stuart, A. S. Johnston, 
Jackson and Lee over the Union Generals. Grant 
was great ; but the four brave heroes were greater ; and 
in the death of Jackson, Stuart and Johnston, the South 
lost three-fourths of her strength and military ability; 
had they lived their generalship genius would have 
still balanced the Southern scales against the im- 
mense armies and bountiful treasury of the North. 
The Ruler of nations and human destinies fought 
against the South ; only omnipotence could defeat her, 
and she wrestled alone in her heroism, aided by neither 
God nor devil. Alone, until Lee surrendered at 
Appomattox. His lines were reduced to twenty-five 
thousand men ; the march had been long and many had 
dropped by the wayside, hopeless and broken down, 
famishing. Horses gave out, long trains of wagons 
were captured, guns were abandoned, muskets thrown 
away. The pursuit was breathless and never flagged. 
There was no time for rest, for sleep or for food. There 
was no food. Those who still kept with the standards 
often sustained life by snatching corn from fields and 
cribs as they passed. At Appomattox Court-House 
Sheridan appeared before Lee. A hope was entertained 
of cutting a way through this opposition, but infantry 
had come up. Lee was reduced to the necessity of sur- 
rendering, and there at Appomattox his soldiers gath- 
ered around him ; ragged, shivering, hungry, gaunt— 
their families starving at home, that home buried in the 
ashes of ruin. 

ft Worlds have been built out of the wrecks of time ; 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


151 


verily, in the South enough was destroyed to erect 
a universe. Lee’s warriors looked upon the face of 
their loved chief— it, too, was haggard, and they knew 
that he had suffered with them ; in his eyes was a 
mute, hopeless sorrow, and they felt that this brave 
old hero suffered agony. Before them stood the 
two hundred thousands of Grant and Sheridan; 
robust, well supplied, their families bountifully pro- 
vided for ; they would return to homes of comfort, 
pleasure and rejoicing gladness. Grant had been a 
brave enemy, a great general, a generous foe, and a 
noble soldier; with true loftiness of a high character ho 
recognized the greatness of Lee ; with genuine man- 
hood he felt and regretted the miser^^ of the wretched , 
vanquished, but unconquered soldier of the Lost Cause. 
He knew their proud, haughty spirits and accorded 
them honorable terms of surrender. In a touching 
address Gen. Lee bade farewell to the broken circle of 
his once proud defiant ^Army of Virginia;’ to- 
gether they had staked their all, and it went down 
in the Lost Cause. His eyes dimmed as he looked 
upon their tattered rags, and their gaunt, starving- 
faces ; and his eagle voice, that had rallied them on 
fields of defeat and inspired them to deeds of unpar- 
alleled daring, shook with the wail of a great sad- 
ness ; he thought not of his own confiscated property, 
his own wrecked fortune, but with the same heroic 
self-forgetfuhiess and iron patriotism that made him 
disdainfully reject every offer of the Union to retain 
him in the Federal army, his heart bled for their 
wretchedness, for their slain who would not return 
with them to their desolated homes. He loved and 
honored this Spartan band ; this specter like remains of 
the Army of Northern Virginia. 

At the passage of Thermopylae Greeks erected a 


152 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa 

I 

marble monument to commemorate their stern hero- 
ism ; where Leonidas made his last stand a g-ranihi 
lion crouches ; it tells' to strangers the same grand, old 
story — overpowered, but not conquered. Thus I would 
mark Appomattox. With the fall of the Confederac\' 
slaves became freemen. Slavery, one of the greatest 
moral evils of a nation, was abolished. Tlie Nortli 
was right in destroying this evil, but wrong in accom- 
plishing it by robbery. Owners should have been paid 
for their slaves just as they would receive payment for 
any other valuable property. And the Government 
had no more right to rob them, than one individual 
has to steal the property of another. When the first 
Dutch vessel landed and sold twenty negro slaves to 
the English colonies, the Legislature of those colonies 
should have prohibited that traffic ; should have pro- 
hibited the owning of man by man. The seeds of a 
great evil should not have been allowed to be planted , 
whereby trees would spring up and bear bitter fruit of 
dissension. Thus could have been averted the horror 
of one brother shedding the life-blood of another. 
After slavery was established, it should have been 
exterminated as England rooted out the evil from hei* 
domain. England did this so quietly that Macaulay 
records : 

" It is remarkable that the two greatest and mostv 
salutary social revolutions which have taken place in^ 
England, that revolution which, in the thirteenth cen- 
tury, put an end to the tyranny of nation over nation ; 
and that revolution which, a few generations later, put 
an end to the property of man in man, were silently 
and imperceptibly effected. They struck contempo- 
rary observers with no surprise, and have received 
from historians a very scanty measure of attention. 
They were brought about neither by legislative reg- 


SEVERE]^ AT GETTYSBURG. 153 

Illations nor by physical force. Moral causes noise- 
lessly effaced, first, the distinction between Norman and 
Saxon, and then the distinction between master and 
slave. None can venture to fix the precise moment at 
which either distinction ceased. Some faint traces of 
the old Norman feeling might perhaps have been found 
late in the fourteenth century. Somo faint traces of 
the institution of villinage were detected by the curi- 
ous so late as the days of the Stuarts ; nor has that 
institution ever, to this hour, been abolished by statute. 
It would be most unjust not to acknowledge that the 
chief agent in these two great deliverances was reli- 
gion. When the dying slaveholder asked for the last 
sacrament, his spiritual attendants regularly adjured 
him, as he loved his soul, to emancipate his brethren 
for whom Christ died.’ The termination of the war 
found the South desolate ; a prey to more evils than 
the War of the Roses left England. Not only a victim 
to all the horrors, destruction of property, wreck and 
ruin, which are the natural results to the vanquished, 
but in addition, five millions of a brutal population, 
that knew no justice ; by the secret instigations of the 
carpet-bagger, the slave had become master, which 
power the carpet-bagger induced and duped him to 
use with coarse, vindicative brutality. The carpet- 
bagger was the scum and filth of the North ; a vam- 
pire more fiendish than the basest demon in all the 
territory of hell ; for devil-like he made his fortune off 
of those he had ruined. He established republicanism ; 
which meant outwardly, negro-rhle of insolence and 
intolerant cruelty, but behind this was the carpet-bag- 
ger. In his hands the ignorant, superstitious negro 
was pliable material to work out the villainous schemes 
of the carpet-bagger ; he made the name Republican a 
sjmonym for the blackest villainy, murder, insecurity 


154 


B:^:VERED at GE'FTYSBURd. 


to pi’operty, insecurity to life, a violation of the com- 
mon laws of decency and honor ; it climaxed the name 
of Republican with that of thieving ; steal, steal, steal I 
public or private, only steal ; like Beast Butler, steal, 
steal, steal, steal knives, steal forks, steal spoons, 
steal pins, steal anything, only steal. It is honorable 
work to steal. It would seem that the South would 
have found protection in her miserable desolation ; but 
history, ancient or modern, records no nation beset 
with such a multitude of evils. Added to the negro- 
rule, and stealing carpet-bagger was another class of 
people ; here I would drop the dark pall over the South 
and lay these men in the honorable grave of a Southern 
soldier. They are the men whose fathers fought for 
the Lost Cause from Manassas to Appomattox ; they 
are the men whose fathers fell on Virginia battle 
grounds, or came home in rags ; the Southern men 
Avho have turned traitors to their country; who united 
with the carpet-bagger and, Brutus-like, stabbed the 
friend that had fed them. Verily, self-interest moves 
the universe and turns man into a renegade — a traitor 
to all but his baser nature. But these are subjects 
upon which I should never converse. I cannot yet 
look back upon those darkened scenes with calmness; 
they yet stir my blood, and again I experience the 
restlessness of an old war horse, neighing and champ- 
ing his bit under the hand of a conqueror. You and 
Jonas, in your benevolence, and with the nobility of 
philanthropists, regret the evils, the horror of brother 
armed against brother, but I am ready again to face 
my best loved brother on battlefields whenever my 
country’s rights call me.” 

Murillo had moved, and again he bent over her 
and anxiously inquired : 

‘‘ Do you feel better after your sound nap ?” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


155 


** I have not been asleep ; but have been wondering 
whether it is chance or destiny that so continually 
directs you to me whenever I am in danger/’ 

Her large, eloquent eyes looked steadily into his. 

‘‘ Strange things are happening every day ; events 
which we are as powerless to stop or control as were 
we the other night to check the madness of the furious 
storm. Murillo, sometimes I agree v^h Shakespeare 
and believe that all the world’s a stage, and men and 
women are actors in scenes of which they had no 
knowledge until after the play ends. Each makes his 
entrance on the theatre of existence, plays his life 
drama, then death, the drop-curtain, falls after the 
close of the last act, and mortals having become tired 
actors pass on to another stage whereon is played a 
nobler, higher life-drama." 

She seemed pondering his words, while he looked 
earnestly into her splendid eyes. 

‘‘Did you hear that old lady’s remark?” inquired 
Senator Garland of Senator Jonas. 

“ No, what was it ?” 

“ She believes the cyclone was a visitation sent by an 
avenging God upon the people for their wickedness.” 

“A philosophj^ that does humanity incalculable 
wrong and God great injustice.” 

‘‘ And sprmgs purely from ignorance of His natural 
laws. Were they universally understood, much that 
now appears dark and inscrutable, would be discovered 
to be wise, benevolent and just ; besides, man could 
intelligently avoid many calamities that his ignorance 
leads himself into.” 

‘ ‘ And it cannot be too much insisted on, that the 
Creator has bestowed definite constitutions on phj^sical 
natui*e, and on man and animals, and that they are 
regulated by fixed laws,” 


156 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Certainly ; and in virtue of this definite constitu- 
tion, every natural object acts in a particular way. 
There must, therefore, be as man^^ natural laws, as 
there are distinct modes of action, of substances and 
beings, viewed by themselves. But substances and 
beings stand in certain relations to each other, and 
modify each other’s actions, in an established and 
definite manner, according to that relationship ; alti- 
tude, for instance, modifies the effect of heat upon 
water.” 

Then it logically follows, that there are as many 
laws as there are relations between different substances 
and beings.” 

I believe so ; scientists have discovered many of 
these laws, particularly in the physical and organic 
creations ; and wherever man has wisely conformed to 
them, they have operated beneficially to him. The 
moral and intellectual laws hold supremacy, and tliey 
all act independently of each other. The laws of heat 
and motion cause the locomotive to run ; and it will 
run so long as they are allowed to operate correctly , 
although the individuals in it may infringe other 
natural laws; they may steal, murder, blaspheme 
and violate every organic and moral law, without 
changing the effects of the physical laws of heat and 
motion ; but it will be wrecked whenever the ph^^sical 
conditions are subverted, however the passengers ma^' 
rigidly observe the organic or moral laws ; and under 
their independent operations the pure and wicked are 
alike victims. Not knov/ing these conditions, many 
well-meaning, justly disposed persons question the 
character of God. The fault lies in their ignorance of 
this independent, unchangeable, universal and un- 
bending operation of laws.” 

You fire correct ; for a man who swallows poison 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


157 


will be in dang*er of death, because an organic law 
has been infringed, and because it acts independently^ 
of others, although he may have taken the drug by" 
mistake, or he may have been the most moral fellow 
oif earth.’’ 

'' Undoubtedly"; and a man may cheat, steal, and 
violate many moral laws, and at the same time be the 
healthiest man on earth if he observe |J[ie laws of tem- 
perance and exercise ; and he who ne^ects them will 
be tortured with pain and disease at the identical mo- 
ment he may be devoting his moral faculties to the 
highest duties of mankind. These laws, too, operate in 
all worlds ; and the science that now controls them did 
so from their primal existence. Obedience to each law 
is attended with its own reward, and disobedience with 
its own punishment; and the man who neglects physical 
laws will suffer phy^sical punishment; and the man who 
infringes the organic laws will suffer organic pun- 
ishment, although he may obey the phy"sical; and 
the man who violates the moral law will suffer the 
moral punishment though he may obey" botli the 
others. Science has not discovered the operations of 
moral laws so perfectly as it will ; the alphabet has 
been taught, but it will And similar conditions in intel- 
lects and morals, as it has found in phy"sics and organ- 
ics. It, too, will' discover that the natural laws are all in 
harmony with the constitution of man, the moral and 
intellectual holding the supremacy". If men who riot- 
(:‘d in drunkenness and debauchery" had thereby estab- 
lished their health and increased their happiness, this 
would appear at variance with our intellectual and 
moral perceptions ; but the actual and opposite result 
is in harmony with them.” 

“ If the physical and organic laws are constituted in 
liarmony with our moral sentiments, it follows that the 


158 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


natural laws, when ohe^^ed, will conduce to the happi- 
ness of moral and intelligent beings who observe them ; 
and that the evil consequences resulting from their 
infringement, will act as punishments and warning^ to 
a stricter obedience for the advantage of the violators 
themselves. And when the transgression of any nat- 
ural law is so excessive as to prevent a return to obedi- 
ence, one purpose of death, which then ensues, may be 
to deliver the individual from a continuation of the 
punishment.’’ 

Certainly; for the punishment could then do him 
no good ; and it becomes a blessing, naj^, almost a be- 
nevolent act on God’s part to deliver him from suffer- 
iug. No cruelty, vindictiveness, and injustice exist in 
the workings and intentions of God’s natural laws; and 
if every rational individual would gain perfect knowl- 
edge of them, and then regulate his actions in strict 
conformity to these laws, he would realize that in their 
operations God’s design is the happiness of man. The 
defective administration of human justice is a fruitful 
source of individual suffering in all countries.” 

“ Particularly in the South, where the jury consists 
of twelve men, eight or ten of them frequently negroes, 
who hold the plough, wield the hammer, or carry on 
some other respectable but muscular occupation for 
five or six days in a week ; their organic systems are 
constantly exercised, and their brains are rarely called 
on for any great exertion. They are not accustomed to 
read much, and are still less in the habit of reasoning 
logically, and in general they live much in the open 
air. In this condition they are placed on the jury bench, 
at ten in the morning, after having been fatigued 
from a long journe}^ to reach the court ; counsel ad- 
dresses lengthy speeches to them, numerous witnesses 
are examined, and the cause is branched out into com- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


150 


plicated details of fact, and wire-drawn distinctions in 
argument. The court is a small, badly ventilated apart- 
ment, generally crowded and overheated. Without 
being supplied with food and pure air, they are confin- 
ed to their seats for many hours, when the^" retire to 
return a verdict, involving human life, and in which 
the law requires them to be unanimous.’’ 

“Many of them have a low conception of human jus- 
tice, and none of the moral sublime to stand firm in the 
cause of truth and right ; so they are often bribed , or 
in other cases, will render any verdict, just or unjust, 
to soon agree with their colleagues, so as to be releas- 
ed from their irksome bondage. The daily habits and 
occupations of such jurors render their brains unfit and 
inactive, and their intellects consequently incapable of 
comprehending complicated cases of facts and argu- 
ment ; added to this confinement, sometimes for days, 
in a close room filled with vitiated air, and the prison- 
er seldom gets the verdict he deserves. The influence 
of the bodily conditions of a human being on his intel- 
lectual and moral capacity seems never to have enter- 
ed the imaginations of our legislators as a matter of 
consequence in the administration of justice. The laws 
of human nature never cease to operate, and if the 
organic ones are infringed the vigor of the intellectual 
and moral becomes impaired; constraint, want of ex- 
ercise and need of air filled with purity, obstruct the 
organic or bodily functions, and irritate and increase 
the activity of the animal organs, so at the close even 
the strongest, noblest and most talented individual is 
physically deteriorated ; and the law of relation be- 
tween his organic construction and mental faculties is 
such that if the former is injured the latter is weakened 
also, and.he is mentally incapacitated to render justice, 
compared with himself, when he began his labors. The 


160 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

accused who go to trial first, therefore, have a greater 
chance of obtaining justice, than those who come last.” 

‘^Garland, I believe this is our getting off point,’’ 
remarked Senator Jonas, and taking his valise he 
turned to Senator Legrange, saying : 

‘‘ I trust your little friend will not suffer much dur- 
ing the remainder of the trip. Ah, Miss Murillo ! I 
thought you were asleep,” he said. Stooping down and 
shaking hands with her, he continued : My home is in 
New Orleans ; I sincerely desire you to unhesitatingly^ 
call on me whenever I can serve you. Will vou do 
so?” 

“Iwill.” 

They shook hands with Senator Legrange, who said: 

Jonas, I am glad to have found you and Garland 
on the train, and regret that you do not travel with 
us all the way.” 

‘ ‘ I will see you in a few days ; I suppose you will 
remain in New Orleans for some time.” 

Yes, several weeks at least.” 

“Well, good-bye.” 

He turned to Murillo as they left the car, and she 
asked, “Are you well acquainted with those gen- 
tlemen?” 

“ I know them both thoroughly.” 

“Are they not remarkably honorable, noble men?” 

“They are, indeed, both of them high-souled, lofty, 
pure-minded gentlemen and incorruptible statesmen. 
I wish the nation had more like them, to purify its 
politics.” 

“ Senator Legrange, who rescued us the night of 
that terrific storm ?” 

“No one ; when the cyclone passed over it was too 
intensely dark to find our way out, but at early light I 
kept going down the ravine until I found secure footing 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. l6l 

and then climbed up to the top. Fortunately a house 
was near, the storm had not struck so far southward 
and had done no injury to it or that neighborhood. 
Some miles above there the loss of life and destruction 
of property were considerable.” 

Senator Garland seems to understand I^ature and 
her laws. I wonder if he believes storms are useful.” 

^ ‘ Of course he does ; he knows they serve a wise 
purpose in the terrestrial economy. Murillo, why did 
you leave Washington without apprising me ?” 

Did you know that I had left before you found me 
at Lookout ?” she asked, watching his face earnestly. 

‘‘ I did. I called to see you a few hours after your 
departure, and that evening on the first southward 
train I followed you. Do you now understand that it 
is not chance that always brings me to your rescue ?” 
he asked smilingly, bending toward her patient, beau- 
tiful face. 

^‘Did Mrs. Crist tell you that I had started to 
Guido ?” 

‘‘ She did ; and I followed to beg you return ; Mu- 
rillo, I will now make my home a paradise for you if 
you will return to it. My sister and my niece Shirley 
will gladly assist me in making you happy. They will 
permanently reside with me, and we all desire your re- 
turn to complete the circle.” 

He bent very closely to her, and his eyes were more 
eloquent in their pleading than his words. Her fea- 
tures were motionless, and her dark, magnificent eyes 
gazed steadily into his. Then she closed them as if to 
resist the earnest, tender pleading of his. 

Murillo — ” 

Ah, sir, do not tempt me ; the noblest part of the 
Lord’s prayer is ^ Lead us not into temptation.’ Your 
luxurious home cannot he mine ; it is the Christian duty 


162 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

of every capable creature to earn his own living ; bur- 
den no one should be the self-taught and self-practised 
axiom of each man and woman. Besides, Guido holds 
the reins of my destiny ; such was the injunction of my 
dying father, and to me it is sacred.’’ 

For a long time neither spoke. It was the bitterest 
moment of his proud, patrician life. After a while she 
continued : 

‘‘ Senator Legrange, you are exceedingly kind, and I 
deeply thank you. But I will live with Mrs. Huntly 
and do such work as I can secure, until I am capaci- 
tated to enter the Peabody Normal College at Nash- 
ville. I shall study hard to prepare myself for a schol- 
arship in that fine college ; there I shall earnestly strive 
to develop into a noble, useful woman ; a woman clad 
with the moral and intellectual strength to Avrestle 
against evil, and come off victor on many a sanguinary 
Marengo of wrong.” 

^‘Will you write to me while absent ?” 

Do you really wish me to ?” 

I do.” 

“ It will give me pleasure to grant your request.” 

Is there nothing I can do for you ?” 

‘ ‘ Nothing, except to carefully guard the box left in 
your care.” 

It will ever be kept securely.” 


CHAPTER XXI. 

Guido, Murillo is the noblest woman on earth. For 
two 3^ears she has earned more than half the living of 
myself and four girls. The money she has received 
for work done in the broom factory during these years 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


1G3 


she has spent in buying’ food and clothing for uS; 
sometimes denying herself of warm clothing. She 
tells me that she is returning the kindness I bestov-ed 
upon her father during his illness. When my husband 
had a government clerkship in Washington he secured 
for us almost every luxury, and when he had to leave 
and conceal himself down here, of course, he could earn 
no living for us, and Murillo has kept us from suffer- 
ing. Oh, Guido, the wreck that crafty, unscrupulous 
politician has made of my husband ; after getting 
power over him, he forced Bennie by threats of ex- 
posure and conviction of crime, into many dark deeds, 
and at last refusing to execute a most infamous 
scheme, he is now hunted down, and must ever con- 
ceal himself to evade the grip of the law. May God 
forgive him for the misery and moral ruin of m}^ hus- 
band, but I never can.” 

Mrs. Huntly bowed her face upon her thin hands, 
and the tears flowed un^estrainedl3^ 

“I experieiice the pangs you sulTer, for he too has 
caused the degradation of m^^ father, ajid branded the 
man my mother had redeemed with the darkest 
crimes. He, my father, was once her idol ; b}^ praj^ers 
and her holy influence she kept him from evil and 
drunkenness. By making him somewhat under the 
influence of whisky, Ben James knew that father 
would become a ready tool in his cunning hands ; so 
the work began until the demon rum rules my father 
almost entirely; and I am glad that my darling mother 
does not live to witness her husband’s degradation.’' 

His tones were low and earnest, and his wan face 
patiently sad. 

Ben James was shrewd enough to always put his 
victims between himself and the law ; a trait baser 
than any of Satan’s, He built his political structure&j 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


16-i 

Avitli hands not his own ; and made moral wrecks of 
men hy using them through their evil propensities to 
serve his ambitious purposes and villainous plans. He 
urged and led my father into temptation, and in- 
toxicated him sufficiently to drown conscience so as to 
induce him to accept propositions that my father 
would have rejected if he had been sober. A man who 
will build his fortune from the moral debasement of his 
fellow creatures is viler than the blackest demon in 
perdition. He stands high in the land while his victims 
are hiding as criminals.’ 

He rose as if to leave. 

Guido, sit down.” 

^‘1 cannot long remain absent. Oh, Mrs. Huntl^^ 
you cannot imagine how the spiritual part of my being 
abhors the life I am forced to lead. I would far prefer 
being dead and asleep beside my mother. All the 
moral development she made in my father undone 
by the vileness of that politician.” 

Just then the door opened and Murillo entered. 

“ Congratulate me, my friends. I have received my 
scholarship in the Peabody Hormal College at Nash- 
ville.” 

‘‘ You certainly deserve it ; for two years, Guido, she 
has studied until midnight, and each day works hard 
and applies herself every spare moment between her 
hours of manual labor.” 

When will you leave, Murillo ?” 

Next week.” 

A dead silence fell between them, and Murillo noticed 
that his face was excessively pale, and slowly he replied: 

rejoice that you have the opportunities I so 
earnestly desire for myself. I will try and see you 
frequently before you leave. Who assisted you in se- 
curing your scholarship ?” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


165 


Senator Jonas.” 

“ He is a great and noble, pure statesman, and you 
are fortunate to have him intei'ested in your welfare.” 

''Why do you hurry off so soon, Guido?” she in- 
quired, as he moved towards the door. "Your visits 
are always so short.” 

" Yes, I have no moments except those I steal, and 
am then miserable during my absence.” 

She looked into his face wonderingly, but asked no 
questions; she knew that there was something ever 
burdening her young friend, but he never alluded to it, 
in fact, his caution was great to prevent detection of 
this mysterious trouble. 

" Guido, your last musical composition is the most 
pathetically sublime and the sweetest thing I ever 
heard. How I long to hear you play it.” 

"Well, I’ll come and gratify your desire before you 
leave. Good-bye.” 

He looked sadly into her eyes and when he was gone, 
she walked to the low mantel, leaned her forehead 
against it and looking into the dying embers, said mus- 
ingly : 

"Poor Guido, there is some deep, cankerous grief 
gnawing his vitals, but he mourns not to any creature.” 

'‘ Murillo, that noble boy’s fate is the saddest you 
ever knew. Ah, child, our lives of poverty and toil are 
blessed compared to his wretched existence, and the 
most mournful fact is that his misery is brought 
crushingly upon him by the wicked deeds of others.” 

" Oh, if I could make some law that each guilty 
wretch alone should bear the consequences of his deeds. 
It is too unjust that the innocent must be burdened 
Avith evil results springing from the acts of the wicked.” 

" Child, whisky and the influence of corrupt men 
upon their fellow creatures are the principal causes of 


SEVERED AT GETTY SBURG 


ifii; 

sin and misery. They should be punished just as rigid- 
ly as murderers, thieves or any other criminals ; I mean 
that men who lead their associates into evil should he 
condemned and punished as criminals. It is far more 
cowardl3^ and vile to dupe and allure others into wick- 
ed deeds, to promote your selfish ends, than to boldly 
and aggi’essively do the foul act yourself. Satan 
executes his own infamous plans, and the man who 
manoeuveringly pushes another blindfolded man into 
gulfs of sin and danger as a shield to fight be- 
hind, is more fiendish than Satan. I would sweep 
the broad world clean of such demons and confine 
them to hard labor in penitentiaries. Too, I would 
make drunkenness a criminal offense; and restrain the 
drunkard’s appetite by locking him behind iron bars. 
I would have jail houses especially for inebriates, and 
no other kind of criminal should be lodged therein. 
Science has discovered, and experience confirms the fact, 
that alcohol is a poison that creates for itself a pro- 
gressive appetite. When liquor is taken, even in the 
most moderate quantity, it soon becomes necessary, 
and then arises a craving demand for an increased 
amount to produce the original effect. For this reason 
I would put men in such restraint that their appetites, 
grown beyond self-control, could not be gratified; thus 
by long inactivity the appetite for drink would grad- 
ually die ; it would slowly die of starvation. Why 
not confine the drunkard as well as a thief ? for two- 
thirds of the time drunkards bring misery and deg- 
radation upon far more innocent and helpless people 
than does the thief. Should not guilt be proportionate 
to the evil, premeditatedly and intentionally” done? 
The common experience of mankind teaches the injuries 
done hy the use of this progressive poison habit. A 
single glass taken as a tonic may lead to a drunkard’s 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 107 

grave. Worse still, this alcoholic appetite is too 
frequently transmitted by inheritance from father to 
son. For the moral benefit of his unborn offspring I 
would restrain the father’s appetite ; because science 
instructs that children inherit qualities from the 
activity of those similar qualities in the parents; then 
whatever obstructs the activity of those traits, pre- 
vents their transmission to children. The drunkard by 
inheritance is a more helpless slave than his progenitor, 
and his children are more helpless still, unless the 
transmission is stopped by rendering the craving 
appetite inactive. There is not only a propensity 
arrested but also an actual disease of the nervous 
system. Men are restrained from the committal of 
other crimes, why not debar them from this ? Jails .and 
penitentiaries are not places of reformation, but are 
prisons of restraint ; remove this restraint and the 
murderers confined will again commit murder. By 
inheritance men receive a definite constitution, and 
unless prevented, they act in conformity to this con- 
struction. If strong moral faculties are transmitted 
from virtuous, conscientious parents, so powerful 
that they will rule the others, that man will never 
commit crime, the thing will be abhorrent to him ; on 
the other side, if corrupt parents curse their children 
with an inheritance of immoraHaculties, those children 
will commit deeds, actuated by the predominating pas- 
sions of immorality. These are facts. Every object in 
nature is stamped with a fixed, definite constitution, 
and generative objects produce fruit in obedience to 
this constitution. We do not ‘ gather figs from thistles, 
or thorns from fig trees.’ ” 

'' Would not national prohibition remove the temp- 
tation to drink ?” 

‘'It would, but that will never be voted as long 


168 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

as congressmen are fond of drinking; from long 
indulgence they have destroyed in themselves the moral 
force necessary to boldly rise in the face of all sneer- 
ings of associates, and vote against this evil. In fact 
of its bringing a great revenue to the Government, 
they have ceased, if they ever did, to view it as an 
evil. Like a number of people ignorant of its injurious 
effects upon the body and brain of man, they quiet 
conscience by a false reasoning ; if a man wants to 
drink, why let him drink, he has his will power to 
resist ; with just as much sense, they could argue if a 
man wants to commit murder, why let him do it ; he 
has his will power to control him. The murderer is no 
more guilty than the drunkard ; each obeys his def- 
inite constitution of inheritance ; and for the good of 
humanity each should be restrained, delivered from 
temptation. But the temptation could be removed, if 
the people would resist bribery and rise up strongly, 
and bravely vote for no congressman unless he were a 
prohibitionist, and by this way put men where the evil 
would be legally crushed. When that will be, I can- 
not tell. But I pray God it will come soon.’’ 

The room was filled with dusky shadows, but Murillo 
could see the patient face was very sad ; neither spoke 
for some time, then Murillo said : 

^‘Mrs. Huntly, I have secured my place in the 
broom factory for your daughter Mary ; and think 
that before I leave I can get Kate work there too. 
Then during the two years of my scholarship in Nash- 
ville, you and they can earn a comfortable living. I 
think, though, it would be better for you if 3mu would 
quit sewing ; it injures your health and brings in so 
little money ; it is so cheap that it hardly pays, and 
causes you to suffer.” 

Murillo, how can I give you up, dear child ? You 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


109 


have been my strong’ comfort and support, spiritually 
and bodily, through dark trials and deep sorrows/' 

I would have done a thousand-fold more, if I had 
been able. I regret that your daughters Mary and 
Kate will be debarred of time to attend school ; their 
hours of work will leave them none for school." 

''They have been fortunate in regular attendance 
at school for many years, and probably it is better 
that the^^ should work ; for two years you have nobly 
deprived yourself for their advantage. Mary is older 
than you, and it is right that she should take your 
place in earning our living." 

She rose, wrapped an old, tattered shawl around her. 

Surely you are not going out such a fearful night; 
listen how the wind howls." 

Murillo, I must go." 

Let me accompany you." 

'^Ko, no, the night is too cold and stormy; remain 
with the children until I return." 

The children are asleep and secure, really it is not 
prudent to venture out alone in such darkness. Mrs. 
Huntly, are you afraid to trust me ?” 

She stood close to Murillo, and laying her hand 
gently on the girl's shoulders replied : 

Ko, my child ; but Heaven forbid that your young, 
pure eyes shall ever behold such scenes as I will 
this night witness." 

‘‘ Then let me go with you ; something urges me not 
to permit you to go alone." 

Mrs. Huntly bowed her face in her palms, and was 
motionless; minutes passed, and then she looked up. 

‘‘Murillo, I am going to trust you with a secret 
upon whose keeping depends the life of my husband. 
Child, follow ; ask no questions, but wrap this around 
you, and come," she said, offering Murillo an old cloak. 


170 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Mnrillo hesitated and turned deadly pale. 

Come, child, and in the future you may do good 
from this night of sad experience.” 

It was far i^ast midnight, a freezing, hitter night 
without moon or stars; the skies and all the space be- 
tween earth and the heavens was thick darkness. The 
snow drifted down slowly and the homeless crouched 
down shivering into a traitorous sleep — a merciful 
sleep from Avhich they would never awaken — an endless 
sleep to be ^^earned for passionately when there is no 
bread for parching lips, no rest for aching eyes, no 
peace for burning’ hearts ; God i:)ity the poor and 
wretched, the criminal and outcast, pity all sutTering, 
doomed and fallen. To-day we find men so high in the 
temple of life; to-morrow sunken so low in the mire of 
corruption. Great God, extend Thy mercy to all hu- 
manity, to all creatures bearing a spark of Thy divinity I 
It was long past midnight in one of those gambling dens 
which mock the law in the hidden darkness of their se- 
cret haunts ; the dens which are Satan’s schools for 
vice, taught and learned with eagerness, as if sin is 
holy; the dens wherein fugitive criminals hide to escap(‘ 
t he law; dens Avhere men enter stainless, but come out 
dishonored; the dens of vice which oiil^" a legislature 
can sup]n’ess. This was one of the worst in Noav Or- 
leans ; the Avorsti in America. It was hidden awa\' in 
one of the foulest and most secret nests in Neiv Orleans; 
its haunt Avas known to none save the frequenters, and 
none so frequented it save those AAdiom some felon's 
doom or criminars brand had already marked. This 
den Avas Dante’s Inferno on earth. The room Avas 
croAvded. Features of eA^eiy varied kind Avere seen in 
the gaudy flare of the gas; they all AAmre the same 
look of thirsty, sleepless intensity of ravenous excite- 
lu ::it, There is a vast error in AAdaich the Avorld be- 


SEVERED AT aETTYSBURG. 


in 


lieves — that gamesters are moved by the lust of gain 
only, by the desire of greed, hy the longing of avarice. 

It is not so ; the money Avon, i-hey toss it hack without 
instant pause, to risk its loss at A’enture. Avarice is no 
part of the delirium which allures them Avith so ex- 
haustless a fascination, the spell that binds them is 
Iiazard. Give a gambler thousands, he cares for the 
gold only to purchase with it that delicious, feverish, 
intoxicating charm of chance. “ There is a delight in 
its agony, a SAveetness in its intensity, a glorious in- 
toxication of sensation in its limitless SAving betAveen a 
prince’s treasure and a beggar’s death, Avhich lends life 
a sense never knoAvn before — rarely, indeed, once 
tasted, ne\"er abandoned. ’ ’ There Avas scarcel3^ a sound 
in the fatal place ; and men Avith starved, haggard 
faces, Avith the Avild look of lunacy in sleepless, famish- 
ing e^^es, gambled with eagerness. The room Avas 
packed. Men Avho had consumed their youth in this 
madness, and 3^oung yet, looked for nothing saA^e a 
death in a hospital and a pauper’s unoAvned grave ; 
men Avho liad flung aAvay high birth, high gifts, high 
honors, came here to wear out the remaining hours of 
dishonored liA^es ; men Avith eyes in Avhich the Avasted 
genius of a mighty mind looked Avistfully out 
through the bloodshot mists of a drunkard’s sight. 
It was the blackest, foulest dungeon of degradation. 
Men made in the image of God, now changed into the 
fiendish likeness of Satan. Oh, ye mothers of America ! 
can it be that your sons have fallen so Ioav ? can it be 
that your boy darlings, once so innocent and noble, noAv 
debauched, lost, ruined wrecks. Yes ; each doomed 
felon in this den was once the joy and pride of some 
loving mother’s heart. We knoAV not what the day 
may bring to our idols. 

Murillo gazed until she grew sick at the sight of 


SEVERE!) AT GETTYSBURG. 

such degradation. She stood alone, but secure from all 
observation. There she saw Guido, and she reeled 
before the ghastly sight. He sat between tw’o men 
who were gambling with the insanity of delirium. 
His head drooped on his hands. and the eyes were 
eagerly fastened on one of the faces. The game 
moved in dead silence, broken now and then by a 
sharp, swift oath from the loser. Now she saw Guido 
raise his hands between gleaming daggers to ward off 
a horrible deed; then the daggers dropped, and the 
gamblers plaj^ed on, and Guido’s face grew pallid; 
sick, wear^^ with disgust for such scenes. Noiseless- 
ly a veiled figure stole to the side of the losing 
gambler; and lifting a warning finger to Guido to 
keep silent, she placed a gentle hand on the gambler’s 
shoulder and in a low voice whispered Bennie.” 

The man’s dagger was instantly drawn, and he 
would have plunged it into her, but Guido wrested it 
too suddenly from him. A fierce oath and the gam- 
bler dropped back to his game, and Guido led her from 
the den; at the door he whispered: Never again 
come here; he is losing heavily and in these moments 
of fiendish excitement he would kill you. I would con- 
duct you home, but must remain to prevent crime.” 

He returned again to his same position, with his 
sad, beautiful face looking as would that of an angel’s 
in hell. It was a wild, furious night but they stood 
and gazed and Mrs. Huntly whispered: 

“ Murillo, that is Guido’s father, and the other my 
husband— fugitives from justice, hiding from the 
grasp of the law. Oh child ! your father sleeps in an 
honorable grave; my children are dishonored by one 
with his crimes heavy upon him.” 

Murillo heard the quiver of agony in the low tones. 
Oil, wretched youth ! crushed womanhood ! dishonored 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 173 

wife ! There is no tribunal on earth that will give thee 
justice. 

Pointing to the two women, she resumed: 

They are the victims of alcohol and the corrupting 
influence of a great statesman ; a powerful politician. 
Those two men were once honorable ; they belonged 
to that large class of humanity in which good and 
evil struggle for mastery, and through the ’ combined 
strength of wicked, debasing political influence, and 
that of alcohol their moral faculties have been almost 
totally destroyed and their animal nature has become 
strong and now holds them firmly in its serpent 
poisonous coils; and they are the samples of sixty 
thousand men who annually die drunkards.’^ 

“Great God, can such things be?” murmured 
Murillo. 

When they had reached home they sat down before 
the handful of coal embers. Mrs. Huntly dropped her 
face in her hands and her tears fell thick and fast. 
Murillo kindled up the fire and held her stiffened fin- 
gers over the warm biaze ; she looked at the sad, 
crushed wife mourning the moral wreck of a husband, 
and most emphatically said : 

^ ‘ Mrs. Huntly, if God permits me to live, I will ded- 
icate my body, brain, energy, soul, life and prayers 
in strong action, stern fight against the demon rum.” 

“ And in return, the world will call you a fanatic.” 

“ I do not care if it believes me an idiot, but- 1 will 
ceaselessly use the powers God has given me, against 
this standing arm^^ of six hundred thousand American 
drunkards, with a militia of one and a half millions of 
rnoderate drinkers to recruit their ranks.” 

^ ‘ Murillo, it has been accurately calculated that six- 
ty thousand drunkards every year drop into graves of 
infamy and despair, but the militia come forward and 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


1Y4 

join the regulars and the degraded ranks are kept full. 
And another sadder arm^^ of one hundred and thirty- 
thousand widows and orphans of drunkards file past 
these sixty thousand graves, as an army of broken- 
hearted sufferers, to follow the wretches departed. 
But there is no mathematics for the computation of 
tears, desolated homes, shames, heart-breaks, moral 
ruins, infamy, degradation and damnation. We can- 
not calculate these; but there is one book in which 
they are all written; and that account must one day 
be settled by those who are responsible for it. Laws 
are enacted to prevent and regulate other evils, but 
intemperance, the giant monster of all evils, runs riot 
over the land, corrupting and devouring whom it may, 
and legislators stand back as cowards, afraid to strike 
the deathblow to this hydra-headed monster ; and 
chivalrously they leave helpless women and children 
at the mercy of its deadly fangs. All honor to Sena- 
tor Blair, bravely he faces the demon and makes he- 
roic fight; all honor to Revs. Taylor and Bascom ; 
all honor to Noah Davis, and Robert C. Pittman; all 
honor to Mr. Bain, of Kentucky, and Mr. Finch, of 
Kansas; all glory to that noblest woman, Francis E. 
Williard ; they are the brave heroes that sternly, 
breast to breast, fight this demon, contesting every 
inch of moral ground, avenging the shriek of thousands 
of helpless sufferers. Too much honor cannot be given 
them ; they will yet be the redeemers of humanity.’’ 


CHAPTER XXII. 

For nearly two sessions Murillo had been securely 
anchored in the Peabody Normal College of Nashville. 
She had been a hard student and ranked well in her 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


175 


classes. Gifted with a splendid intellect, together 
with close Demosthenes-like application she was now 
nearing her graduation day. Her life at the college had 
been exceedingly pleasant, for daily she had received 
the beneficial instruction and ennobling influence of fine 
teachers. Her board had been at Mrs. Lenehan’s, a 
most estimable, lovely and pure character ; she now 
stood in her room upstairs looking down upon the 
crowded street, brilliantly lighted and thronged with 
elegant equipages, handsomely dressed foot passengers 
hurrying to and fro, and her thoughts wandered back 
to the old days of suffering and poverty spent on the 
magnificent avenues of Washington. She thought of 
Mrs. Crist and Senator Legrange, who had ever been 
true friends to her so many times since she had last 
seen Senator Legrange on the train; she had wonder- 
ed over the gentle, eloquent pleadings revealed in his 
magnificent eyes. She did not know that the door had 
opened and her room mate, Ollie Kelly, had entered. 
Putting her arm around Murillo’s shoulder Ollie asked: 

Of what are you thinking so intensely, dear?” 

Of various things, my friend, particularly of the 
saddened days of my childhood.” 

They are dead, Murillo, and let the past keep its 
ouried treasures. Do not make yourself sad by digging 
them from that limitless cemetery.” 

My friend, it does me good to reflect on those days; 
it gives me faith in humanity, for in those dark days I 
had noble, staunch friends whose interest was purely un- 
selfish, and was prompted entirely by philanthropy.” 

‘‘ Did you have no mother?” asked the noble-hearted, 
warm, generous girl. 

‘‘ She died before I could remember her.” 

Indeed, jmu were unfortunately deprived of the 
noblest blessing on earth. I could not live without 


176 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


my darling mother ; she has such a strong, tender 
mother-love for her children, so kind and gentle to all 
orphans and everything which suffers. I wish you 
knew her ; she would make you love her for her ten- 
derness to you. Her home has so frequently heen that 
of orphans and poor people that were in distress. How 
my heart beats when I think so soon I will be with her 
and my brothers and sisters.” 

‘‘And my return will be greeted by neither. I am 
the last of my race and stand desolately alone in the 
world. I have become strongly attached to my 
friends here and will regret deeply to leave them. 
Dear Mrs. Lenehan has been so kind and mother-like 
to me.” 

“ She is a dear, sweet lady, and I do love her 3 and 
my ambition is to become so noble a woman as is our 
teacher, Miss Sears. Her influence for moral develop- 
ment over the students in that college is wonderful. 
The good she accomplishes is almost incalculable, and 
many a student leaves that dear college strong in 
virtue, shielded in honor, a coat of mail put upon him 
by her noble, honest, fearless hands ; and they go out 
to fight the Leipsic battles of life, and are not vanquish- 
ed because she has trained them into brave, moral 
soldiers. How many she has saved from becoming 
wrecks, mere drifters with the sweeping currents in 
the tides of time ; she has urged them into action, un- 
til they have become strong wrestlers, and out upon 
the high seas of life they buffet with wind and wave, 
and cyclone’s roar, and go not down. Dear, noble 
teacher, she has helped me to win on many a moral 
battlefield , she has cheered me into many a victory, 
helped me to conquer the enemy, and proudly hold him 
beneath my feet.” 

“ She is indeed a most noble woman ; and her life has 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


177 


been one of long, patient toil for humanity’s good. 
She fills one with strong moral convictions, so power- 
ful that activity follows ; one is driven into the acting 
out of these convictions, and they force him into helping 
others, into giving strength to weaker comrades he 
meets in daily life.” 

Murillo, I do not think that we can give too much 
honor to those brave men and women who have dedi- 
cated their lives to the accomplishing of good ; those 
heroes and heroines that unknown to the world, take 
the hard, throbbing, sinful hand of humanity in theirs, 
and help it to a higher round in the ladder of life. 
Such men and women are our teachers here, particular- 
ly Miss Sears and Prof. Lampson and Dr. Stearns.” 

‘‘ And are examples for our imitation.” 

Yes, indeed. I long to be a noble, useful woman ; 
to live to benefit humanity.” 

Nothing else is worth living for, my friend ; and 
each was intended to do good ; some upon a bi'oad 
philanthropic scale, as our great benefactor, George 
Peabody. There is no science that can compute the 
world-wide good accomplished by that most magnan- 
imous, lofty-souled man. But for his benevolence m 
endowing this college with scholarships for each State, 
I could have never received a collegiate education, and 
thousands have thus been benefitted.” 

I have frequently desired to know something of his 
life,” said Ollie musingly. '‘It must have been full of 
suffering, for it appears like that after the heart has 
been agonized with poverty and pain it grows tender, 
and compassionately thoughtful of sorrowing human- 
ity.” 

“Not always, misery hardens some natures; and 
benevolence must have been a strong element of his 
character, and his kind deeds are a result of that 


178 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


organ. He was a native of Massachusetts ; lie accum- 
ulated a vast fortune, of which he gave half a million 
to Harvard; the same to Yale, and seven millions to 
Normal Colleges. He has been dead many years, hut 
his good deeds are imperishable. We can never be a 
George Peabody ; but we can work on an humbler 
scale and do good to all men as we have an oppor- 
tunity. No man can stand entirely independent of 
others. He must live in society, and be constantly 
receiving something as an individual, or collectively, 
from the community in Avhich he resides. And it is a 
moral duty to render every possible kindness he can 
unto his neighbor. Honesty is justice and benevo- 
lence combined; therefore it is unjust and unkind 
to be dishonest. Many a child of suffering poverty 
has been plunged into deep misery, whom the honest 
debt paid would have relieved from distress. A dis- 
lionest man is a vampire which sucks the life-blood from 
the kind hand which compassionately assisted it. He 
is a burden to the community in which he lives ; and 
relieved of his weight it would increasingl}^ prosper. 
Not only will kindness be honest, and render back the 
good deed by equal goodness, but it will be ever 
read^^ to be obliged that its own benevolence may 
thereby be the more stimulated and cultivated, and 
ever on the alert to practice the Bible injunction that 
‘ it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ The law 
of kindness binds us to be open to a reciprocity of good 
offices, and admit ourselves to be debtors of humanity 
in encouraging good deeds, both by a frankness in 
receiving and a readiness in repajdng. I have been 
the recipient of blessings so great that my lifetime 
spent in trying to return them would scarcely suffice. 
God has been the always truest friend ; He has 
carried me so often through the dark valley, and from 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 

Under the shadows of heavy afflictions ; I shall g-ive 
Him my whole life and dedicate my intellect and 
energies to the performance of His holy will.” 

A deep serenity settled over the grand face, and the 
dark eloquent eyes looked into the beautiful brown 
ones of her companion. 

Murillo, I wish you were my sister.” 

Why, dear ? ” 

Because I could reasonably hope to be always near 
you. When you talk, in me springs a desire for loftier 
deeds, kinder acts than ever I have done, and it makes 
me very sad to know how soon you will leave our dear 
old college; once out upon the howling seas of life, the 
rushing currents may never drift us together.” Tears 
stood in the lovely, fine eyes, and for a moment Murillo 
bowed her head upon the lofty, white forehead of her 
younger friend, and their tears fell together. 

“ Ollie, dear, I would keep you closely to my side all 
through life if I could. You have been a loving, true 
little friend to me, and deeply I will grieve to leave 
you. Next year you will graduate and return to your 
home, and, dear, if we never meet, let us promise each 
other to spend the years of separation in doing good 
as each has the opportunity. Let this be the invisible 
bond while divided one from the other.” 

A full moon hung just over the tall spire of the Capi- 
tol and fell directly into their faces, and Murillo looked 
down into the expressive, beautiful one of her friend; 
each feature indexed a pure, grandly noble character, 
unselfishly generous with the intensity of a benevolent 
nature, a loft}^ nobility and outspoken frankness, and 
an aggressive resistance of all wrong to either friend 
or enemy. A warm, trusting friendship, so strong 
that it never wavered or doubted; a quick, brilliant 
intellect were the faculties that had made her room- 


180 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


mate so congenial to her. And the bond of affectioii 
between them was closely strong. 

That night in his splendid library sat Legrange. He 
was alone and it was near midnight. He sat before a 
marble table, a large open book lay on it and his eyes 
followed its closely printed pages, the leaves turned 
rapidly and its contents were absorbing. For hours 
he had read, and towards dawn he closed the book, 
and unconsciously exclaimed : 

‘ ‘ What a genius perished by the death of Marcus 
Lawrence ; it is the grandest book I ever read.’’ 

Regularly he had corresponded with Murillo, and in 
one of his letters he had informed her, that to promote 
her interest it had become imperative for him to ex- 
amine the contents of the box she had consigned to his 
custody. She quickly authorized him to make the ex- 
amination. He had found a manuscript and a letter, 
among other papers addressed to Murillo ; she was re- 
quested to have it published if ever able. He had given 
it to a publisher and had defrayed all expenses, now it 
was attracting the attention of eminent scientists and 
prominent literary men. It was the production of a 
wonderful genius. The income was steady- and valu- 
able, and carefully had he invested the proceeds. Her 
lettei^s were the chief pleasure of his life, and the bitter 
fear lest Guido would always hold the reins of hei- pre- 
vious life had been dispelled since the examination of 
the papers in the iron box. 

He now understood why it was necessary that she 
should be under Guido’s protection. He took the small 
locket from his desk drawer and gazed upon the lofty, 
beautiful features ; and those of the mother were no 
more high-souled and exquisite than those of the 
daughter. 


^VERED AT GETTVSBURG. 


I8i 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

“Guido, Bennie will never return;” the tones of 
Mrs. Huntly were low and thrilling* in their agony ; 
she stood near him and hid her face against the low 
mantel. 

Yes, I fear his desertion is forever, and yet he 
was once so deeply devoted to you and his children.” 
Guido looked sadly at the drooping wife, crushed un- 
der a weight of grief, his own manly, honorable coun- 
tenance was full of misery, patiently and uncomplain- 
ingly borne. His features were remarkably fine, clear- 
ly cut as those of the gentle, unselfish Raphael, and 
with Guido’s inheritance of the high-souled, spiritual- 
ity of the tender-eyed, loving artist, came also the 
lofty, magnanimous, ethereal face. He was now in the 
full years of his young manhood, and possessed a 
nobility of . soul that God rarely gives to any individu- 
al outside of the realm of Heaven ; and looking upon 
the bowed form he continued : 

Mrs. Huntly, I did all that human power could do 
to redeem your husband; I never left him long at a 
time for man^^ years; eagerly I seized upon ever.>' 
sober moment of his, and forcibly appealed to reason 
and conscience; I plead, I prayed on bended knees 
before him, but alcohol was mightier than all our elo- 
quence, all our arguments, all our prayers ; and before 
the great, just God, Ben James and rumsellers who 
sold him their bottled conscience and lionor slayer, 
will have to suffer in return for your broken heart, for 
the degradation and poverty into which they steeped, 


182 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

then plunged, you and your children. The God of 
righteous justice called upon Cain for the blood of 
his brother, and terribly will He demand of rumsell- 
ers and political corrupters an account of the immor- 
tal souls they have deadened with poison, and have 
sunk in a lethargy of moral ruin. Oh, there is no ven- 
geance so wrathful as that of an outraged Creator, 
crying out for the spark of His divinity that has been 
extinguished in the creature to whom He gave it; and 
He will not hold the rumsellers guiltless for the 
thousands of their fellow brothers they slay every 
year.” 

His face usually so pale and patiently calm, was 
now flushed, and his noble features were eloquent with 
burning fervor. 

“ Women and helpless children must be protected by 
the strong arm of the law against this home destroy- 
er and honor slayer; and legislators should be branded 
as traitors to chivalrous, honorable manhood, if they 
refuse her and her children this protection; and I 
believe that rumsellers who make money by ruining 
their fellow associates, are more criminal than the 
whole category of murderers, thieves, or moral law- 
breakers of any sort.” 

Guido, many rumsellers, I think, are unconscious 
of the evil, jpoisonous nature of the alcohol they sell. 
Surely, there are good men who sell liquor, not fully 
knowing what corruption they work to the buyer; 
certainly, they do not know the misery and disgrace 
they bring by selling whisky to thousands every year.” 

They should find out the evil they cause, and then 
abandon their murderous, soul, body, and moral killing 
business. Were I, through ignorance, to administer 
you a dose of poison, and you luckily escaped death, I 
would be censurable for acting under ignorance, when 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 183 

I could very easily have learned the nature of the 
poison, hut after positively knowing* that it would kill, 
and again administer you or anyone else a dose, then 
the act becomes unpardonably criminal. Just so with 
rumsellers, and this is the period in which they can- 
not remain ignorant of its evil work.” 

'‘Your father, Guido—” 

He lifted his hand in a gesture of silence and a look 
of terrible agony settled over his features. The ex- 
pression was awful as that which Angelo sculptures on 
the face of the old Israelite after the children of the 
Hebrew land had trampled in the dust the Command- 
ments God had given them. The western sunset ling- 
ered over the stony, rigid features, and in husky tones 
he whispered : 

" The guiltless shall be liberated;” his head drooped 
very low and his breath came heavily; a fearful pres- 
sure seemed crushing him. 

" Great God ! that a son must bind the chains of a 
felon on his father’s hands.” 

A dead silence fell between them. Mrs. Huntly 
raised her tear-stained face and gazed at Guido as if he 
had become mad. 

“Guido, oh, boy — ” but she did not finish; imperi- 
ously he looked up and replied : 

“ Brutus-like I would sentence my own son to the 
gallows, if by doing so it would save the guiltless.” 

“And yet the bond of father and son is very 
strong,” she said, as if answering her own reasoning 
doubts. 

“ But not stronger than the love of justice;” a stern 
heroism ennobled his features and he continued : 

" It is better ; for then the innocent will be liberated 
and father removed from the life of ruin and degrada- 
tion into which alcohol chiefly has plunged him. I can 


184 ^ 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


never redeem him so long as temptations engulf him ; 
and oh, for too many years unjust, weary imprison- 
ment has been wrongfully forced upon the guiltless. 
Do you wonder that I have shielded Murillo at the risk 
of my life ? the injury to her alone can nevei' be re- 
paired.” 

Again the keen look of suffering settled over his thin 
rigid features, and the door opened and Murillo entered. 
She had returned home some months before. 

Mrs. Huntly, the deed is all right now, and you 
will have a lifelong, comfortable home. Good evening, 
Guido,” she said, pausing between them. He looked 
up and held out his hand and his fingers closed ovei* 
hers with the pressure of steel. 

‘‘ Murillo, surely you did not deed me this property ?” 

I did ; it cost only three thousand, and Senator 
Legrange, under my request, has purchased house foj- 
the same sum in Washington and deeded it to Mrs. 
Crist ; it gives me infinite pleasure to know that the 
money which comes from the sale of father’s book is 
doing good to those who were true friends to him when 
ho mostly needed friends.” 

Murillo, dear, you are too unselfishly generous ; 
you should permit Senator Legrange to invest the 
money for your benefit. He greatly desires to do so.” 

“ My pen, earns me all the funds I need. The States ^ 
pays me very well for the articles I contribute; so after^ 
all, there is not much benevolence in giving away some- 
thing which I do not necessarily require. Besides, this 
is the inauguration day of President Cleveland. I 
I)assed the Civil Service examination for a clerkship in 
the post-office here, and as soon as the President 
appoints a Democratic postmaster, I expect, througli 
the influence of Senator Jonas, to receive a position.” 

Will you not have to be examined under a 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 185 

Democratic administration in order to* receive an 
appointment from a Democratic postmaster,’’ asked 
Guido. 

Oh, no; I cannot make another application until my 
name is dropped from the Civil Service roll, which will 
be done soon if I receive no appointment in a few 
months. I was examined four or five days after my 
return from Nashville; so my time will soon expire. 
Guido, you cannot leave until you give us some music,” 
she said, putting her hand upon his arm and as he gazed 
down into her exquisite face, his heart beat swiftly. 
She had always been the idol of his strong, pure 
devotions; since her return from school his love had 
grown into passionate, deep strength. 

Guido, please,” she said coaxingly. 

Of course; you know that I would go tlirough per- 
dition to gratify you,” he returned in low, eager, 
suppressed tones. 

He sat down before a new instrument she had 
recently purchased, and she stood near him, and gazed 
spellbound into his radiant, genius-lit face, and she 
thought that she had never seen so grandly beautiful 
a countenance, and while she listened to soul-thrilling- 
music and looked earnestly into the lofty face of her 
friend, Senator Legrange stood in his superb dress- 
ing room before a large portrait of herself, and her 
eloquent dark eyes stirred his pulses, and caused them 
to beat rapidly. W eary with statecraft, he had turned 
his steps from the Senate chamber, and found calm, 
sweet rest in the deep, liquid depths of her splendid 
eyes, and grand, lovely countenance. It was the 
evening after the President’s inauguration of the morn- 
ing. The city was packed. For days and nights the 
weary tramp of gathering thousands and the mighty 
hum of a collecting multitude had sounded throughout 


18G 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


the city, until now it was densely filled. The sun 
^’littered from intensely blue skies, cloudless as an 
azure vault of crystal, and serenity and approval of 
the coming reign of honest Democracy, smiled from 
sunlit American heavens. From an earl^^, golden 
dawn, soldiers. County Democracy, Sam Randall clubs, 
Tammany and many other Democratic associations 
went in superb triumphal march to the Capitol. Penn- 
sylvania Avenue was a compact mass of humanity ; 
and a laughing sun hashed from brilliant uniforms and 
polished steeds. A boom as of mighty, sweeping Mag- 
aras shook the air, and Mr. Cleveland’s carriage passed 
slowly between a surging mass on both sides of it. 
The nation’s choice, raised to greatness by the force of 
his own powerful character, America’s incorrupti- 
ble ruler. On his fine face was no exultation, no 
vain glory ; it was immutably calm, marked with 
granite resolution, an iron tenacity in the cause of 
right. Before the President’s carriage came Mr. 
Hendricks, the Vice-President. Grand old hero, Glad- 
stone, the glory of the nineteenth centur^^ never 
fought with lion courage for the triumph of justice, 
more bravely than you. And the multitude, in 
reverent honor to moral greatness, and unchange- 
able services to the triumphing party, hurled his 
loyal name upward to smiling, goldeit-hued skies ; 
too much homage could not be showered upon the 
staunch, peerless old Democrat, and America gave 
him her loudest cheers; tiien a deep, deep silence fell 
over that vast compact multitude while the oath of 
office was administered to the President of tlie United 
States of America. 

Legrange stood near and a mournful eloquence 
crept into his superb eyes as he looked over that 
vast, surging sea of human life. To the reflecting, 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


187 


there is something’ sadly pathetic in' such a sight ; 
awfully solemn, nay, almost sacredly sublime. What 
is it that is impressively majestic in a dense, silent 
multitude ? Individually each is a mere unit; many 
naughts in existence, but in the aggregate there is 
that same mournfulness that brought hot, unbidden 
tears to the eyes of him who sat on his white marble 
throne at Abydos and gazed down upon his millions, 
while a Syrian sun glittered on the crest of blue- 
Grecian sea-waves, and flashed from polished lances 
and brilliant shields and crimson pomegranates of the 
Immortal guards. Perhaps like him we vaguely, 
unconsciously compassionate these vast multitudes, 
of which in a century each will have joined the mighty 
caravan journeying to the silent, solemn, night-draped 
halls of death. ^‘The depth of the sadness lends a 
sanctity to the crowds whose goal is the g'rave, which 
the chill and hollow philosophies of an Artabanus 
cannot whisper away we, too, are wending our Avay 
thither in their companj^; we, too, must turn our steps 
from golden Abydos, and lay us down to die on the 
hard-fought field of Thermopylas. But like the 
Spartan three hundred, let each of us fall a hero on the 
field of Honor. To-day where there is the solemn hush 
of death, to-morrow will bring the sunny, rippling 
laugh of reveling life. The two are ever fused to- 
gether, twisted in one inseparable cord ; the silken, 
golden threads of life, side by side with the rugged 
dark strands of death, crossed and recrossed, one 
following the other as night follows the day, and as 
shrdovvs which run before the sunlight. There was 
great revelry in the banquet hall ol splendor, and as 
the golden hush of twilight deepened into the royal- 
purpled night all patrician Washington crowded the 
lialls of magnificent beauty. The floral decorations 


188 


SEVKliED AT GETTYSBUKG. 


were costly and superl). The stars were coming out 
in the violet skies, and the west was still j^ellow in an 
amber sunset when Legrange entered the brilliant 
banquet halls. Never since the night of his fatal 
wedding had he darkened the doors of such places. 
Since his widowerhood, diplomatic match makers had 
exerted in vain their statecraft to entice him into 
their scenes of mirthful revelry. To-night there was 
a great stir among the belles when, polished and 
elegant as a courtier of St. Cloud, he entered the 
arena of the festive world. For some moments he 
stood conversing with the President, a couple drifted 
near, and in gay, languidly mellow tones, a belle ad- 
dressed him. 

“ Good evening. Senator Legrange.’’ 

He bowed courteously to the lady ; her face he re- 
membered having seen at the elegant receptions given 
in his own brilliant parlors, but the name escaped. 

“For shame that your hermit-life has obliterated 
the faces of your friends and admirers,” she returned 
as she paused near. Fearing that he was guilty of not 
Tecognizing an acquaintance to whom he might have 
been introduced under his own roof, he walked down 
the hall at her side. Reader, we remember her ; for she 
it was who, in the house of God, feared contamination 
from a cleanly but poorly clad child of suffering and 
poverty. She exerted her eloquent fascinations to keep 
him at her side, and succeeded for some time. She 
knew that envious eyes watched her captivation of the 
great statesman, and it was the proudest, happiest hour 
of her life. From that night her efforts to fascinate this 
grand, brilliant patrician, with a heavy bank account 
and a marble palace, were ceaselessly herculean. She 
had passed the early springtime of girlhood and neared 
the meridian splendor of life, yet she was very beauti- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


189 


fill and spared not money in the art of embellish men t. 
In some way, since that inaugural ball, the gossipping 
world had coupled their names as a certainty that hers 
would soon be* exchanged for his royal one. Weeks 
later as he stood alone and looked up into the 
matchless face he loved best on earth, the peerless, 
dark eyes of the portrait thrilled and roused the long, 
latent tenderness of his cold, haughty nature and he 
murmured ; 

Murillo, my darling, my idol, soon I shall visit you, 
and then the world can babble itself hoarse with the 
truth.” 

It never occurred to this proud patrician that defeat 
might come, and yet he had loved her mother, but not 
with the depth of cool, passionate manhood ; then it was 
the fervor of youth. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

How many young mariners sail from the restful port 
of childhood and return no more to its wave-kissed, 
golden-sanded, sunlit shores. Once out upon the surg- 
ing, high seas of life and the tranquil beauty and serene 
puritVof childhood’s haven stretch far in the backward 
distance. Brave, young, hopeful eyes peer wistfully 
back to that loved tideless harbor, but the maddening, 
boiling surges of life’s restless sea sweep the young 
voyager onward. 

Oh, childhood! oh, blissful shores! oh, peaceful home! 
there is no return to thee. A brave, youthful sailor 
was Murillo ; and with eager, restless energy she 
recked not that if her frail bark struck not the sharp 
rocks of Scylla, there was the whirlpool of Charybdis 
to engulf it, Life’s sea is full of awful Niagaras to roar 


190 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


and sweep her into its whirlpool rapids, for the shores 
of Time are strewn with human drift, with the wrecks 
of noble lives. Along the coasts of the wide sea-past 
are scattered in ruins proud human structures that 
were once great, imperial, world-ruling brain powers. 

‘‘Guido, would you have me turn traitor?’’ she 
asked, as they walked slowly down Canal street. 

“ To what ?” he asked. 

“ To that which is highest and noblest in my nature; 
to the truth, conscience and courage and the immortal 
soul God has given into my keeping,” and her face 
showed impatience of all restraining arguments. “ I am 
no pompous, dainty child of luxury, and even if I were 
I would scorn to be a drone in the busy hive of exist- 
ence.” 

“ It pains me to have you seek work in public places 
like a common hireling.” 

Guido, I honor those noble women who are stain- 
less, and earn their bread from the public harvest fields. 
Woman can enter perdition with crystal purity, and 
pass through uncorrupted. I will not be a coward 
and sluggard on the labor fields of life. I love ac- 
tivity and work; and one day of honest exertion is 
worth a million of indolent stagnation ; the pleasure 
which springs from earnest industry is buoyant and 
lasting ; though the sun be scorching and the task 
herculean, I will never shrink from my duty as a toiler 
in the broad, Avhitening fields o. time. I desire not 
glory or wealth; but 1 pray God that I may do good 
for the suffering and poor of humanity, and I almost 
scorn those heartless drones who burden others for an 
easy existence.” 

They had reached the Custom House. 

“Murillo, I regret” — 

“ No regrets, Guido, and no fears ; ” she struck her 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


191 


palms together. “ Honor is my buckler, and men rev- 
erence its liol^T- countenance ; apd behind it, the 
angels in heaven are not safer than I. There stands 
Senator Jonas, and a nobler man never lived; he 
would not use his influence in seeking an improper 
position for me.’’ 

‘‘ He stands at the top. of the stairs as if waiting for 
you; so I will return as it would require time for me 
to ascend those steps.” 

‘‘ Good morning, my jmung friend. How you have 
grown since I last saw you. Legrange would scarce- 
ly recognize you ;” said ex-Sena tor Jonas as he shook 
hands with her. ‘‘You are punctual, indeed.” 

“ It does not pay to be a laggard in matters of im- 
portance.” 

They had reached his reception room. “Miss Law- 
rence, this is Col. Moore; C. H. Moore of war glor.y; a 
brave Confederate private; also State Senator, and 
to be appointed in the office of Surve^^or General.” 

“ Have you finished, Jonas ?” he laughed as he bowed 
to Murillo. 

“Ho, I forgot to add that you are the champion of 
every lad}^ office seeker, and that you are going to 
assist mein piloting Miss Murillo into a clerkship.” 

“ Miss Lawrence, we pray that he will prove to be a 
true prophet,” he laughed, while his keen, honest eyes 
searched her face, and he continued: “ Knocking at 
the door of Government clerkships is somewdiat lil^e 
getting into heaven.’' 

“ Why, sir, is it so delightful as that ? ” 

“ Experience will soon answer, young Miss. Most of 
them learn that ‘ many are called and few are chosen.’ ” 
Offering her a chair, he continued: 

“The trouble is that Cleveland does not ship the Re- 
publicans fast enough ; I would have, before now, 


l92 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 

sent them all sailing unto an unknown seaport. But 
that beautiful Civil Service keeps them securely an- 
chored.” 

‘‘It really retards him in making removals,” re- 
turned Collector Jonas. 

“ Pshaw ! Cleveland could send them sailing faster. 
Henry Watterson is right; it would be royal times for 
good old Democrats were he President ; and no man 
under the sun could fill the place better. I nominate 
him now, for our next President ; you second the mo- 
tion, Miss Lawrence, and we will secure clerkships in 
three minutes after he takes the oath of office, for he 
says that every man in or out of the classified Civil 
Service could be removed by the President and heads 
of the departments, and there is no authority to pre- 
vent. Miss Lawrence, we are old Confederate soldiers 
and true Democrats, and we will nominate Watterson, 
and swear by him, for he will never fail the old party 
just so long as the stars, and moon, and sun do shine.” 

“ Hendricks would turn them out.” 

“Yes, and he shall go on our ticket. Miss Law- 
rence, was your father a Confederate soldier he ask- 
ed, while his brave, fearless eyes looked steadily into 
hers. She scrutinized his face and found the character 
stamped there, singularly honorable, candid and 
impetuously brave. Ho lion was more daringly fear- 
less. 

“ Yes, sir.” 

“ Shake hands,” he said, “ for I honor every son 
and daughter whose father fought in a cause so 
sacred.” 

Ex-Senator Jonas had left the room, but at this 
moment returned and pausing near Murillo addressed 
her. 

“Since his appointment, Capt. Buck has been so 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


19P> 


constantly occupied that I have had no opportunity to 
urge your cause ; however, I will do so as soon as 
possible. Can you return at this hour day after to- 
morrow 

Yes, sir.” 

I regret to have disappointed you this evening.” 

I can be patient, sir, if only success coines finally,” 
she returned, rising to leave. 

Moore and I will do all in our power for you.” 

‘‘Of that I feel sure ;” for unerringly she had read 
that in the nature of these two good and noble men, 
steadfast patriotism and adhering friendship were 
strong elements in their characters. She shook hands 
with them and when she had left the room Col. Moore 
. said : 

“ Jonas, I swear I knew her father.” 

“ Where ?” 

“ On the battlefields of Manassas, Chickamauga, and 
Gettysburg, where he was killed. No braver soldier 
ever fought on any battlefield. He was killed while 
bearing the colors by the side of myself and Gen. 
Gibson.” 

“ Impossible, Gettysburg was fought over twenty 
years ago ; she is not eighteen.” 

“ D — n the years : that is the daughter of Hiram 
McPherson.” 

“ Why, her name is Lawrence.” 

“ No matter ; I believe she is the daughter of Hiram 
McPherson, my old soldier comrade.” 

“ When you get an idea, you retain it, eh ? no 
matter how the facts in the case stand ; and whether 
you are correct or not, she is a noble, intelligent, 
young lady and deserves success in all her under- 
takings. Her literary talents are much above the 
average; she inherits them I suppose from -her father, 


194 : 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG^. 


for he was a remarkably deep-brained philosopher, 
and his book is the finest system of moral philosophy 
I ever read.’’ 

Her father ! did you know him ?” 

I knew of him through Legrange.” 

Where ?” 

In Washington where he died in wretched poverty ; 
his name was Marcus Lawrence.” 

There be conflicting things on earth, for the 
resemblance of Murillo Lawrence to Hiram McPher- 
son is stronger than the likeness I have ever seen 
between child and father.” 

Maybe he was her uncle.” 

Well, uncle or father, I am the friend of Murillo 
Lawrence, for the sake of my old dare-devil comrade ; 
he was grandly brave, the most entirely fearless 
mortal I ever knew ; and Randall Gibson will be her 
friend too. I shall write to him. He would go to the 
brink of damnation to serve an old war-chum.” 

And you would fight Satan hand to hand to 
befriend one.” 

I would; for Bull Run, Chickamauga, Manassas 
and Gettysburg drank their blood and mine. To me, 
they, my old comrades, are sacred.” 

And as Collector Jonas looked into the noble face of 
the brave old soldier, he saw a shadow of sorrow 
settle over it, from memories that were eloquent and 
holy. 


CHAPTER XXV. 

‘‘Good evening. Miss Lawrence.” 

“ Good evening. Col. Moore,” returned Murillo, as 
she met him at the Surveyor General’s office nearly 
three weeks later. 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


195 


Did 3^011 receive my note ^ 

“ Yes, sir ; wliat prospects? Does Capt. Buck seem 
inclined to appoint me 

I think he does ; hut the trouble is to create vacan- 
cies. It is rumored that Lamar secured his appoint- 
ment, and stipulated that the Mississippians should be 
retained and seven out of the ten lady clerkships are 
Mississippians. ’’ 

‘^Does Senator Lamar swear by everything because 
it comes from Mississippi 

I believe so.’’ 

Then I shall cross the river and pitch my tent upon 
Mssissippi soil.” 

Gen. King arrived last night, also a letter from 
Senator Gibson, who asks your appointment because 
jmur father was an old comrade of his. Col. John A. 
Buckner, of Korth Louisiana, was also an old war lion, 
fearless and intrepid; he, like your father was a South- 
ern glory and fought many a sanguinary battle by his 
side. He arrived in the city last night, and when I in- 
formed him of you, and of your father having been our 
soldier comrade, h.e went immediately and held a most 
urgent interview with Capt. Buck. 

Then he is acquainted with Postmaster Buck.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, yes, verj^ well ; he exerted his influence for 
your appointment, also Jonas, who thinks Buck is de- 
sirous to give you a clerkship. King will soon be here 
to take you to Buck’s ofllce. If an^^ man’s energy can 
secure you a position his will. He is a genuine Napo- 
leon to persist. Jonas held a long interview with Buck, 
and thinks if you are not appointed it will be from the 
fact that no vacancies can be made ; there are many 
applicants and a fearful pressure is brought to have 
Mrs. Ford appointed.” 


19G 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


I hope he give her a position, and I would not 
be the cause of her not getting one for anything.” 

He looked steadily into her beautiful, calm eyes and 
replied : 

‘ ‘ You must not be so generous ; in such'matters sel- 
fishness pays heavier dividends ; but here comes King;” 
and after introducing them he said : 

“ General, this is your charge; she is ready to be 
conducted to Capt. Buck. Here is Gibson’s letter and 
her certificate and many other recommendations.” 

'' Are you not going with us ?” asked Murillo, as they 
paused at the office door. 

Oh, no ; I will remain outside and pray for you,” 
he laughinglj^ replied. Are you afraid ?” 

I believe you are no coward; you could not-be one, 
because your father was the coolest and most daringly 
brave man I ever know ; it was his fearlessness to raise 
the trampled colors when no other hand would touch 
them, that caused his death.” 

When they had entered Gen. King, giving her a 
chair, walked to a desk where sat a small, elegantly- 
dressed gentleman. It was Capt. Buck. Soon they 
were in earnest, close conversation ; she could hear 
nothing said, but had time to study their faces closely; 
slie was an acute physiognomist and read that Capt. 
Buck would give her no clerkship. She saw him read 
Gen. Gibson’s letter, and only for an instant his ex- 
pression indicated a favorable change. Gen. King ar- 
gued with vehemence, but to no purpose. The conver- 
sation ended and they approached her. 

Miss Lawrence, Capt. Buck ;” he bowed with the 
dignity of a prince. 

“ I regret to disappoint you. Miss Lawrence; nothing 
could afford me more pleasure than to give you a clerk- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 197 

ship. I am certain that I could appoint no one who 
would prove more faithful and efficient.’’ 

‘‘Will you not he compelled to select from the names 
highest on the Civil Service roll ?” ^ 

“ Certainly.” 

“Suppose mine stands closely to the first?” 

“I have examined and it does not.” She looked 
at him steadily fora moment while he continued, “I 
have a friend, Miss Bisland, whom I am anxious to ap- 
point; she is very brilliant and — ” 

“ Is that a necessary accomplishment to secure a 
position in your department ?” 

“ It is not; but I merely offered you an explanation; 
I desire to appoint her and cannot, because I am com- 
pelled to select from the names above hers, and yours 
is below her name, consequently your appointment is 
impossible.” 

“ Captain Buck, I regret to have troubled you. 
Good evening,” she said, as he bowed her out and 
and closed the door. 

“ What success ?” inquired Col. Moore. 

“ Sir, the prayers of the righteous availeth much ; 
yours brought no success, therefore you are an un- 
righteous man,” she smiled. 

“ Are you going to give up the chase ?” he inquired. 

‘ ‘ No, sir ; I will leave shortly for W ashington; fortu- 
nately my name will soon be off the Civil Service roll, 
and I can again make application.” 

“Jonas tells me that you are well acquainted with 
the great statesman Legrange.” 

“ Yes sir, I am.” 

“ Then you will secure whatever position you desire 
in Washington ; his name is imperial and a world-rul- 
ing power.” 

Jle is no greater than Attorney- General Garland,” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


198 


Their ability is peculiar to each, and springs from 
the individual character of each. Gaiiand has the 
finest legal brain in America.” 

He and Senator Legrange, and Gladstone and Bis- 
mark are the, greatest men of the world; his face and 
that of Senator Legrange are the noblest, grandest 
human countenances I ever saw; thej^ are both fear- 
less, strong, proud, imperial in moral and intellectual 
greatness.” 

“Well, if ever my services are needed, I will be glad 
to render them to aid you at any time. Your father 
and his boy comrade were brave Confederate soldiers, 
and C. H. Moore is ever ready to serve one of them or 
their children.” 

Tears dimmed her eyes as she looked into Ins, she 
gave her hand in the grasp of warm gratitude and 
reverent friendship to the soldier comrade of her father. 
He noticed her tear-filled eyes and knew that her emo- 
tion was too deep for utterance. And even after she 
had left him he remembered the lofty soul-stirring 
nobility of her splendid, features, and again the faces 
of McPherson and his boy comrade rose before him. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

Guido, necessity drives — ” 

“ Xo, no, Murillo, your pen supports you here with- 
out going to Washington ; besides, your income from 
the sale of your father’s book is sufficient to gratify 
your wants. It is some other motive which cariies 
you to the nation’s capital.” 

Guido, no matter the motive, I am going to Wash- 
ington,” she looked at him steadily. “ Senator Legrange 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. . 199 

ofTers me a situation as governess for the two children 
of his widowed sister who lives with him, and I have 
accepted it.” 

The young man’s face turned stony and pallid, his 
lips were mute and colorless. 

Guido, I regret to leave you and Mrs. Huntly, 
but a residence in his home will give me opportunities 
I cannot receive here. For months I have toiled day 
and night, and am often deprived of information which 
I have no source to derive it from. God has gifted me 
with a small inheritance of my adopted father’s talents, 
and it is a duty I owe to these faculties to seek every op- 
portunity for their development; a duty I owe to God 
to use them for His glor^^, and the benefit of 
humanity.” 

Looking into her exquisite face he saw no vaingloiy , 
but a deep consciousness of the inherited powers of 
great ancestors, and a firm resolution to be a faithful 
servant of whom these talents would one day be re- 
quired. 

Murillo, without you life Avill be so completely 
desolate; you are the only sunlight of joy in my dark, 
black destiny. You are eager to do good; the most 
charitable act of your life will be to stay near me. I 
am dependent on your society for happiness; with it I 
welcome all other wretchedness; without it I would 
rather be dead.” 

She looked upon the grand, lofty features pale in the 
evening sunset, as he bowed his head upon a tall 
marble mausoleum in Washington Cemetery. It was a 
golden sunset in February, and slanting, broken shafts 
of amber lodged in the magnolia, myrtle and laurel 
trees, and fell in broad belts of golden lights over the 
marble homes of the rigid, silent, sleepless beneath. It 
was Sunday evening, that quiet restful hour, when the 


200 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


living come with reverent feet to honor their loved 
dead; a balmy, sweet evening, whispering of an early 
Spring-tide, and many visitors wandered among the 
aisles of marble tombs. 

Where Murillo and Guido sat was secluded ; tall 
magnolia trees rustled their fragrant foliage in the 
gentle breeze. A funeral procession wound slowly up 
the gravelled walk, and the wails of crushed, grief- 
stricken parents told that a loved one had joined the 
mighty caravan,” moving on to the silent realms of 
death. The procession left the cemetery, and again 
silence was guardian angel of the hallowed place. 

Do not mourn, Guido, at your hard lot; death is 
the deepest of all sorrows. You have one parent; I 
have neither,” she said, mournfully. 

‘‘But you have honor, and I disgrace,” his tones 
quivered with intense pain. “ You have freedom, and a 
chance to make the future what you will; I, a dungeon 
worse than a feloq’s cell. I am bound, chained until 
death,” he whispered in husky tones. 

“ Yours is the harder lot ; leave it, Guido, it is not 
your duty to sacrifice all that is pure to shield one in 
such a perdition of crime and degradation.” 

He lifted his hands toward her, and his face became 
ghastly. 

“Hush,” he whispered, “you know not the temp- 
tation, you know not how my soul loaths for such a life, 
how it yearns for a life of freedom and purity. Oh, I 
would barter a thousand birth-rights for one year of 
exemption from such scenes. God has gifted me ' with 
genius, I say it reverently, but for what purpose ? only 
to torture me into madness by ceaseless intense yearn- 
ings for glories which my chained existence shut out 
forever. My duty ! Yes, as long as life lasts it must 
be spent in efforts to reclaim him from a criminal ’s 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


201 


doom. The sacrifice is great, far greater than life, but 
it must be made.’^ 

And the nature which makes it, a god-like one,” 
murmured Murillo, as she watched the pale resolute 
face, grand with the same old heroism that made 
ancient Greeks and Romans deified by their own 
countrymen. 

Guido made no reply, but his face was intensely sad, 
and after awhile he continued : 

‘'You know that during the life of your father, when 
we lived in Washington, he taught us both ; and ex- 
cept what I have gained by self-instruction, I owe my 
education to him. I long desired fine opportunities to 
improve the intellect which God has given me ; but 
have reached manhood without them and — ’ ’ 

“ Guido, I honor above all others on earth, those 
men who have struggled against circumstances, and 
being overweighted, have risen grandly to greatness. 
Do not grieve, my friend; the world is now ringing the 
glory of your genius ; genius can no more remain 
obscured than the brilliancy of the electrical flashes 
can be darkened by overhanging storm clouds. God 
has endowed you with greater intellect than I, but as 
a compensation, the circumstances grouping around 
my life have been more favorable to intellectual 
advancement than those of yours.” 

He seemed pondering her words and after awhile she 
said : 

“ Guido, has your father always lived in — ” she 
paused, and he comprehending what she would have 
asked, replied : 

“ Long years ago, before and for several years after 
my birth, he was honorable and noble, and gifted with 
a genius that made him a peer among men,” 

What caused his ruin 


202 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Alcohol, and the evil influence of corrupt 
politicians ; some day I will tell you the long, terrible 
story in which immortal souls have been defaced, and 
the image of their Maker changed into that of fiends. 
Men whose high character have fallen' low into the 
dregs and filth of degradation. I will find you, some 
day in the future, and then the time will have arrived 
when I must relate the a wful story to you. Murillo, a 
promise made to my dying mother chains me to the 
dens in which my father hides as a criminal. ^ My 
precious boy, forsake not th3^ father ; dedicate th^^ life 
to reclaim him from evil,’ were the dying words of that 
stainless mother, and I shall keep the charge.” 

Silence fell between them, but after awhile Murillo 
he.ard his low quivering tones asking: 

‘‘ Murillo, wh3" will 3"ou leave me ? Senator Le- 
grangehas all the world out of which to find happiness, 
but you. are my world.” His tones were deep and 
passionate. 

‘‘ Hush, Guido,” and her face crimsoned as his mean- 
ing' I'ushed upon her. What divine law exempts me 
from the common hard lot of the toiler. Senator 
Legrange has offered me a situation; it is pleasant and 
profitable work, and I have given up the intention of 
seeking a Government clerkship, and will follow the 
humble occupation of governess, and 1113- undemanded 
hours will be dedicated to niv literaiy ambitions. 
Guido, I long to labor for humanit3^’s good; an eager 
desire to assist all suffering, sinful creatures, to rise 
from a lower, into a higher, nobler existence, fires 1113^ 
'Whole nature; and I will, so help me m3^ merciful God. 
The mone3^ which comes from the sale of father’s 
grand book, will be spent in such a noble cause; he 
would so use it, were he living. He suffered and 
lulled for humanit3', through long 3"ears of garret 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. t>0:J 

poverty; and great philosophers predict that his book 
will elevate humanity, and in this way will render man 
more deep, everlasting good than any book ever 
published except the ISTew Testament.” 

“ You are determined to go 

I am.” 

She watched an intense suffering and struggle of ex- 
pression on his countenance, and she knew that conflict- 
ing passions were striving for the mastery; then he 
lifted his splendid face toward her. 

Murillo, I love you more than Senator Legrange 
could ever love ; do not leave me.” 

‘ ^ Guido, are you mad ? I have nothing to do with 
such things as you hint of ; oh, my friend, you humiliate 
me. Do you not understand me better ? Senator Le- 
grange does ; he knows that I bear a strong, loving 
friendship to my friends, and a kind feeling toward all 
beings, and a tender compassion to suffering creatures, 
but not what you speak of.” 

But you will, and he will become the god of your 
idolatiy. Murillo, I understand you better than you 
do yourself, and I know that the day will come when 
your strong love will cause you to desert your 
childhood’s companion for another.” 

‘‘Nev^er,” she exclaimed with vehemence. For a 
moment a wild, delirious joy radiated his face. 

“ Murillo, are you in earnest ?” 

Most solemnly do I pledge that no one shall ever 
divide us. Guido, you have ever been my truest friend; 
do you think I could turn ingrate?” 

The light died out of his face and slowly he said : 

No, Murillo, you will always be faithful to me as a 
loving, noble sister, sympathetic and true in your deep, 
grateful, sisterly devotion. You are a woman now, 
and V'ith your imperious, strong, majestically x>ure 




SEVERED AT ^ETTVSBtfR(^. 


character, you will love only once with the idolatrous 
intensity of agony. Your idol will not he your hoy 
life-long friend.” 

His voice was excessively mournful. I have loved 
you always and none will ever love you so truly, so 
passionately deep as your childhood's companion.” He 
stooped, and pressing his lips to her hrow, said : 

I pray God’s blessing upon you, 1113^ darling.” 

‘^Good-hj^e, Guido, my brother.” 

He was gone and she sat with her face bowed upon 
the marble tomb, then she realized how desolate would 
be Guido’s life without her, and scalding tears dripped 
upon the early Spring violets beneath, yet she did not 
waver from her intention of going to Washington. 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

Murillo, dear, how I regret to see 3^ou go alone out 
upon -a wicked wild world.” 

Do not gries^e, Mrs. Huntly; God is everywhere 
omnipotent and will protect me in Washington just 
as well as here.” 

They stood in the depot awaiting the outgoing 
Washington train; directly its shrill whistle and ring- 
ing bell announced its arrival. 

Oh, Murillo, it seems as if I am giving you up 
forever !” . 

^‘No, no, I will come back 1 ” 

It was very dark. Passengers snatchea up their 
baggage, those who were asleep awoke in a hurry, and 
rushed for the train. For a moment Mrs. Huntl^^ held 
Murillo in a close embrace, kissed her several times 
and left her bound for Washington. Wlien alone 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


205 


Murillo pressed her face against the window facing* 
and blinding tears dripped over her cheeks. 

Give it up, Murillo, and comeback home;” and she 
looked up into Guido’s face, while bitter tears rolled 
down her face. 

No, I will not turn coward. Good-bye, Guido.” 

He stood outside by her open window; for a moment 
his cold fingers clutched hers with the strength of 
despair. 

“May God stand between us while we are divided, 
my darling.” 

The train moved off and she was alone, out in the 
wide boundless world. Alone ? No, the All-seeing Eye 
that watches the sparrow’s fall guarded this young 
mariner. She watched the boundless, blue water of 
Lake Ponchartrain, and far in the dark distance a dim 
light glimmered where the sweep of the currents rush- 
ing into the ocean was dangerous to vessels. A broad 
belt of light streamed across the waters and a distant 
ship sailed past from sea, then again all the deep waters 
and the heights above lay in the surrounding darkness 
of ocean stillness. The scene was awfully sublime, 
and stirred her with solemn serenity — not the sublim- 
ity of heroic action, and of great energy and passion, 
but the serene grandeur and awful feeling of sublimity 
which comes from the darkness, heights, vastness and 
noiseless, sweeping majesty of mighty ocean. Above 
brooded the cloister stillness of purple draped and 
golden star-studded skies, beyond which was a cathe- 
dral space, so vast, so boundless, that glittering- 
worlds swung as lamps to light the mighty realm 
wherein eternal stillness is enthroned. Ah, the mil- 
lions of weary feet tramping through earth, the vesti- 
bule which leads us to that endless, limitless temple — 
eternity — with its numberless star lamps, swinging as 
burning worlds along its walls, lighting travelers from 


S06 


SEVERED AT GETTVSBUIIG. 


far-off planets, through it&^loister stillness and crys- 
tallized darkness. Night and day millions are jour- 
neying through that solemn cathedral gloom, the aw- 
ful grandeur of that unknown pathwaj^ from earth to 
heaven. She slept very little that night and next day 
watched the blue outline of the Cumberland mountains, 
and the silent country she remembered having passed 
through years before with Senator Legrange. At the 
base wound the Tennessee River, a smooth, tranquil 
stream, its clear waters rainbow-tinted from the sunset 
clouds ; the evening was calm and serenely still, for in 
the blue distance was outlined the Cumberland range 
as a granite stairway to some vast, unknown temple 
beyond. Lookout Mountains towered grand and 
massive as the sky-hooded dome of Nature’s cathe- 
dral, upon which the setting sun had lodged like a 
huge ball of amber. A flood of memories rushed 
over her. At Chattanooga the train made a short stop. 
A number of passengers came on, among whom was 
an elegant looking gentleman who took a seat just 
in front of Murillo. The train moved off, and she felt 
his eyes often searching her face, as she rested it 
against the window and tirelessly watched the moun- 
tains and silent country around as “ twilight, gray 
hooded like a sad votaress in palmer’s weeds,” stole 
down the mountain slopes, and held solemn com- 
munion with Lookout, the cowled monk of the 
Cumberland brotherhood and peace stole up the 
sunset dazzling pathway like a saint entering Para- 
dise; and then night spread her brooding, raven 
wings over the country, silent and dark. Murillo 
closed her eyes, and the handsome stranger rivetted 
his upon her splendid, regal, quiet features. Her 
countenance reminded him of Poe’s Ligeia ; holy, 
spiritual, majestic and far more madly divine than 
the phantasies which hovered about the slumbering 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


207 


souls of the daughters Delos — far more divinely 
beautiful than the haunting face of which Dante 
dreamed — far more intellectually grand than 
Michael Angelo’s Yittoria Colonna. Her features 
were not of the regular mould we find in the Yenus 
Yicatrix; her eyes were violet blue, large and elo- 
quent ; and nowhere, except in antique sculpture, had 
he ever found the perfection of her nose, mouth and 
chin. He desired an opportunity to address her, but 
her dignity and queenly reticence made her unap- 
proachable; she possessed the majesty and lofty 
superiority of an empress. 

Good evening, Merrill,” said a voice near him 

Why, Legrange, what are you doing in this part 
of the world ? I thought you were in Washington. ” 

So I was when you left.” 

Murillo looked up, and saw Senator Legrange 
holding to the back of the stranger’s seat, a few feet 
in front of her, standing erect, with his face partly 
toward her. 

When did you get on the train ?” 

A few hours since.” 

Where ? ” 

Chattanopga; I started for Hew Orleans, to escort 
a young lady friend of mine to Washington, but a tele- 
gram informed me that she had already left Hew 
Orleans; so I am now returning, and hope to reach 
Washington as early as she does.” 

What is her name ?” 

^‘Miss Lawrence.” 

‘‘Sit down, Legrange,” said Mr. Merrill, moving 
his valise from the seat ; and no sooner had he ar- 
ranged himself comfortably than Clifton Merrill asked 
in low tones : 

“ Legrange, did you ever see a human countenance 
so nobly regal?” 


208 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


For an instant Senator Legrange looked eagerly 
into the face of Murillo; she had changed wonderfully, 
yet he could not be mistaken. She glanced up, and as 
their eyes met, she smilingly held her hand toward 
him. Quickly he clasped it in his warm, strong 
fingers and seating himself by her side said: 

^ ‘ You have changed marvelously . ” _ 

^ ‘ Do you forget that years have passed since you 
last saw me, and that children become grown 

Indeed no ; but I hardly expected such a wonder- 
ful improvement,” he replied, releasing her hand. 
‘‘How have you spent these long years? I have 
frequently heard that you area hard student.” 

“ Yes, sir ; for several years my application has been 
close. A dull student can attain success no other 
way,” she smilingly replied ; “ but how is Shirley ?” 

“Quite well, thank you; and is excessively rejoiced 
at your decision to make Washington your home. She 
has made her dehut in society, and is now delaying her 
first entertainment until your arrival.’ 

“I regret the postponement.” 

“ Why ?” 

“I do not desire an entrance or introduction into 
Washington society. I will have neither time nor inclin- 
ation for its requirements, and a fashionable existence 
would become such a burden that lifQ would grow hol- 
low and weary. Senator Legrange, I am a selfish 
creature, and cling closely to those things which give 
me pleasure.” 

“ And they are books, art and duty, and the doing 
of good,” he replied, looking steadily into her eyes. 

“Yes, sir ; they give a keen, exquisite, deep pleas- 
ure and satisfaction to life, more real than honors or 
wealth, and they make life a thousand times grander 
than effervescent fashion. I pity those creatures from 
Avhoni society demands such heavy exactions; it robs 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


209 


time of too many opportunities for solid enjoyment. 
Deeply do I compassionate Secretary Bayard in the 
loss of his brilliant granddaughter — a victim to the 
burdensome exhaustion of society requirements. No, 
sir, I desire the quiet and unchanged freedom of home- 
life : my days filled with performed duties, a serene 
enjoyment that comes from a communion with nature 
and art, and a deep realization that each hour I have 
done’ some good, given a strong, honest, helping hand 
to a falling human brother. Sir, I have solved the 
problem of life, and there is nothing else worth living 
for.’’ 

Her face was eloquent with a calm, lofty expression 
which told how perfectly she felt her words. 

‘‘ Young friend, I believe you have found the true 
philosophy and wisdom of life. Mrs. Bayard is prostra- 
ted from the loss of her queenly, beautiful daughter.” 

‘‘ I trust she may recover, and there is no womanly 
heart in all this world who so entirely sympathizes 
with her and Secretary Bayard in their grief as I do. 
He is one of our grandest, most peerless men, and the 
very strength of his gr^at character intensifies his 
agony. But you have not inquired about Guido and 
Mrs. Huntly,” she said, looking into his face. 

Are they well ?” he laughed. 

Very, thank you; and my little pupils— they are 
your sister’s children, I believe you wrpte me ?” 

Yes, and cousins to Shirley, she being the daughter 
of my only brother, who died a missionary in India and 
bequeathed me his child.” 

Did her mother die before your brother’s death ?” 

Several years,” and his face grew wondrously sad. 
It recalled the bitter moments of their last meeting just 
on the eve of his marriage. 

'' Who assisted you in obtaining your scholarship in 
the Nashville Normal College ?” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


no 


Mr. Jonas ; he recommended me to the State 
Superintendent, and my competitive examination being 
satisfactory, he made my appointment.” 

Louisiana now has a very able and efficient 
Superintendent of Education.” 

‘‘Yes, sir; Mr. Easton is laboring ceaselessly to raise 
the system of public education, and deserves the 
success he is attaining. He has done more to promote 
thorough intellectual progress than any previous 
Superintendent, and Louisiana should bear him grate- 
ful appreciation, in reelecting him to his distinguished 
position.” 

“ I know Hon. Warren Easton quite well ; and believe 
that Louisiana showed wisdom in electing him, too. 
Gov. McEnery is a brave Southern patriot, true as steel 
to his party, and Louisiana owes her redemption from 
carpet-bag rule mainly to him. He is her best Governor, 
par- icularly for levees, and those Democrats who will 
allow -their judgments to rise above trifling local 
mistakes into which he has been unintentionally led, 
must realize the fact that he has accomplished more good 
for Louisiana than any Governor she has had since the 
war. His has been the calm, fearless hand of strength 
that has wisely and undauntedly guided the old craft 
of State through angry and deep perilous seas. And 
the people should remember these facts ; and those 
who are prejudiced against him on account of local 
matters should have the manhood to i-mpartially in- 
quire into his administrative acts, and they will find my 
statements rigidly true. Look how the snow is falling, ” 
he said, glancing out of the window. 

“ The mountains are beautifully covered with it.” 

“Very, indeed;” for a moment each was silent, look- 
ing at the winding stairwa^^ powdered with snow ; then 
she turned and asked : 

Have vou seen Mrs, Crist lately 


SHIVERED AT GETTYSBiJRG. 


21 1 


Not since I transacted your settlement for her. 
However, she is doing* well. I saw her son Raymond 
the day I left. He has a lucrative clerkship, and the 
younger boys are at school. She is anxious for your 
return.” 

Indeed, I will be delighted to again meet her; she 
is a noble woman and a true friend of mine. I am glad 
Raymond has been so fortunate. How I pity that poor 
wretch,” she said, looking towards a man who was 
staggering to his seat. 

A man should have will and moral principle to 
resist temptations of brutalizing himself in such a way,” 
he replied contemptuously. 

Senator Legrange, you are too severe in your 
decision against the frailties of your brothers. Many 
of them drink because an inherited appetite has, by 
exercise, become stronger than reason, will, or moral 
principles.” 

He looked steadily into her splendid eyes, and she 
continued: 

What I tell you is just as true as the heavens 
above us.” 

‘‘ The remedy ?” he asked. 

‘‘Is to remove the temptation; ‘to deliver them 
from evil ;’ to prohibit the liquor traffic. You are a 
statesman of great influence, and the subject demands 
your thoughtful consideration.” 

“ Sir, there is no evil under the sun that is so com- 
pletely carrying man through a backward evolution, 
from a moral, progressive being to an unprincipled 
brutal animal; all other evils combined are not so 
powerful to vitiate the human race as is the use of 
spirituous drinks. The infallible truthfulness of 
science has discovered the sad fact; and sagacious 
observers do know that alcohol is an omnipotent agent 
in vitiating the quality of the brain; and the effect is 


SI 2 SEVERED AT GETTYSUBM. 

far ofteiier more debasing* upon the offspring than iii 
the drunkard himself. His habits frequently indued 
an ‘ attack of insanity ’ where the predisposition exists^ 
but he generally escapes with nothing worse than tlie 
loss of much of his natural vigor and intelligence, 
moral strength and hardiliood of mind. In the son 
or daughter, however, on whom the consequences of 
the parental vice may be visited for generations, 
the cerebral disorder ma^^ take the form of intemper- 
ance, or idiocy, or insanity, or vicious habits, oi- 
imx^ulses to crime, or some mental obliquities ; and 
thus alcohol, by carrying man through a backv/ard 
evolution, reverses the order of God’s creation. 
Science demonstrates that through countless ages God 
had labored steadily and ceaselessly, out of lower 
creatures evolving higher ones ; the evolutions, into 
liigher existence have been gradual, slow but unmis- 
takable; just so will alcohol, by vitiating the human 
stock, finally annihilate what is noble in man — the 
crowning object of all His glorious creations. I do 
deeply compassionate those sons and daughters of x^a- 
rents whose systems were tainted b^^ alcoholic x^oison, 
foi' they start life burdened with strong animal x^cox^en- 
sities, and morbid ax^petites, and evil tendencies con- 
stantly craving indulgence ; they have inherited weak 
controlling faculties, and life is either a ceaseless, 
Marengo field, on which morality or immorality 
wages a fierce struggle for the mastery ; or it becomes 
that of a degraded animal. Their temptation is 
greater, and their power of resistance is less, than in 
children of pure parents. They are, therefore, more 
likely to fall into the pauper or criminal class. Sir, it 
is a fearful thing to so curse children, for alcohol is the 
parent of pauperism, and the tendency of pauperism 
to perpetuate itself is so marked as to attract the 
attention of all observers,” 


SEVERED At GETTYSBURG. 

Indeed, yes,” he remarked, closely watching* her 
eloquent face. Every lawyer knows the carefulness 
and peculiarity with which ‘ pauper cases ’ are 
contested, because the municipal authorities know 
that a pauper settlement once fixed upon their town is 
likely to be a burden for generations. Eighty-five 
years ago Ulster County contained a pauper named 
Margaret ; she and her two sisters have produced 
generations of paupers and criminals to such an extent 
that the total number now known, mainly from Mar- 
garet — convicts, paupers, criminals, beggais and 
ti'amps, including living and dead — is six hundred and 
twenty-three.” 

This mother of criminals must have cost the 
county immense money.” 

I do not recollect the exact figures, but know she 
cost the county many thousands of dollars.” 

‘ ‘ Recently the city of Springfield had lodged and 
fed eight thousand and fifty-two tramps, and nearl^^ 
every vagrant was reduced to that condition by intem- 
perance. It has been accurately calculated that nine- 
tenths of the tramps in America have been degraded 
to their state by intemperance. It unfits the laboring 
class for work. 

Ames & Sons, a large shovel manufacturing es- 
tablishment at North Easton, Massachusetts, in two 
months, lost sixteen and a half millions of dollars, by 
their laborers losing days out of these months, their 
absence being caused by drunkenness; and each year 
is spent six hundred millions of dollars in buying 
physical, mental and moral poison — a little over ninety- 
five millions being spent in education, which cannot 
possibly counteract the evil; for it is a sad truth that 
the years spent in schools are only for a short period, 
while those of the dranv-shop are a lifetime.” 

‘^Education is not sufficient to counteract the evil, 


BEVERED AT GETTYSBUKGf- 


214 

for many of the most cultivated and brilliant minds 
are victims of this brain destroyer.” 

''True, but education combined with occupation 
tends powerfully towards the diminution of crime, 
more especially crimes springing* out of degraded 
humanity. America should follow the example of 
Prussia and make a law compelling parents to send 
their children daily to school, unless the child or pa- 
rent is sick or otherwise absolutely impossible. Too, she 
should adopt England’s law, forcing individuals to 
pay their debts. Were I powerful enough I would 
confine every strong, able individual, to hard laboi*, 
until he had paid his every honest debt ; too, I would 
enforce Germany’s labor law; each capable individual 
should by industry and economy be self-sustaining*. 
No country should manufacture alcohol, unless for 
medicine, art and such necessary purposes, and as 
soon as a substitute could be discovered, alcohol should 
not be on the face of the earth. Thus in my Utopia I 
would compel people to live honorably, spending their 
lives in the performance of good, so by continually 
exercising their noble faculties these would finally, 
through generations, become strongl}^ developed and 
rule humanity. The evil in each, by being dormant 
for a long time, would become extinct : and the good, 
by constant exercise, w^ould become powerful.” 

" You do not belong to John Stuart Mill’s school of 
philosophy for you would leave man no liberty.” 

" Better have no liberty if it is spent in doing evil.” 

" Under your laws man would deserve no credit for 
his good deeds.” 

"He deserves very little with all of his liberty; 
better to deprive him of opportunities for glory, than 
multiply his opportunities for indicting misery and deg- 
radation upon his fellow creatures.” 

He made no reply, but listened attentively to her as 
she continued ; 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


215 


I would not enforce these laws with cruelly oi* un- 
kindness ; hut they should be executed with rigid flnn- 
ness and compassionate restraint from opportmiities 
to commit evil ; thus I would have my realm under 
that most beautiful and truthful part of the Lord’s 
Prayer : ‘ lead us not in temptation, but deliver us 
from all evil.’ The tender, human part of Christ knew 
that restraints and removals of temptations are very 
necessary.” 

For a moment she looked np into his face, and his 
fine eyes gazed into the deep, violet depths of hers. 

I believe, in your youth, you have gathered the 
wisdom of ages; you have found the true philosophy of 
humanity. For even many a man, conscious of a 
strong, proud nature, rushes into temptations, believ- 
ing his omnipotent will can bring him out of the fiery 
furnace unburnt.” 

And, too late, he finds that the consuming flames 
have scorched and blackened a once noble manhood.” 

But your laws do not regulate all the evil propen- 
sities of man.” 

In a realm where there were no ignorance, no im- 
paid debts, no indolence, no drunkenness, to cause 
nearly every species of crime, all other evils would 
soon become extinct. Too, I would execute the first 
slanderer ; he should not debase the earth with his 
track of vileness.” 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Sister, they are the two noblest girls on earth.” 
Yes, and are so opposite in their nature ; they are 
deeply attached to each other.’’ 

Senator Legrange and his sister sat by a window in 


216 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


his mag-nificent library ; they watched Murillo a iid 
Shirley as they promenaded the wide gallery outside. 

^ ‘ Shirley is so anxious for Murillo to attend her ball. *’ 

Will she not consent 

I fear not, brother; she would become the crowned ' 
beautiful queen of our White House society were she 
so inclined. She is peerlessly majestic in face and 
carriage; her figure is faultless; while her nature is 
imperious, it is patiently gentle. My children are de- 
voted to her, and I am sure they will advance wonder- 
fully under her instructions.’’ 

“ Clifton Merrill has lost his head about her.” 

When did he become acquainted with her ?” 

He saw her on the train when she was coming to 
Washington. He called a few evenings since and 1 
introduced him. He says he saw her many. years ago 
when she came into church and occupied his pew.” 

Miss Florence will become insanely jealous of our 
regal Murillo ; but I believe she entertains great 
admiration for my brother, and ever since the Presi- 
dent’s inaugural ball rumor has coupled your names.” 

She looked into the smiling, handsome face of her 
brother. Do you intend making her my sister ?” 

^^Do you think I am in my dotage?” he asked, 
looking straight in her eyes. 

“ Brother, she is pretty.” ^ 

Yes, under gaslight, where Artificials are not easily ^ 
detected. Sister, I wish you would assist Shirley in* 
inducing Murillo to attend this ball.” 

Probably she dreads making an embarrassed ap- 
pearance.” 

‘ Impossible ; she is always elegant and equipoised 
111 her manners. At the last White House reception 
Miss Cleveland and Mrs. Whitney, who are criterions in 
such matters, were charmed with the elegance, calm 
self-possession and exquisite loveliness of Murillo,” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. ^17 

Just then Shirley and Murillo entered. 

“Uncle, please insist on Murillo’s attending* my 
hall. I think if you ask her she will; besides we are 
going to strike for a whole day’s holiday. Hush, 
Murillo, don’t you speak; remember your promise.” 

“ A conspiracy, eh?” he laughed, looking into the 
dancing eyes of his niece. “No holiday until the plot is 
discovered. Vividly memory recalls the Cataline con- 
spiracy and, too, great Caesar fell a victim.” 

“ Oh, uncle, you know that Mnrillo and I love you 
too deepl3\” 

“ What proof is ready, that you both love me ?” he 
asked,-« while his eyes were ri vetted on Murillo’s face. 

“ There is mine,” she returned, throwing her arms 
around his neck. “ Come, Murillo, with yours,” she 
continued teasingly. The beautiful face flushed to a rich 
carmine, and his devouring eyes met her glance, and in 
the dark, eloquent depths he saw a light that caused 
his heart to bound with thrilling, joyous intensity. 

“ Well, I will give it for her,” continued Shirley, 
again kissing him. “You have no urgent letters to be 
written to-day, so, uncle, I must have my holiday.” 

“ None, except what my secretary can flnish ; and 
dear, you can have a thousand holidays, I am in the 
humor to grant your every request.” 

“ Mamma, an excellent time to beg for that lovely 
pearl necklace.” 

“ Select any you desire ; or any other requirements 
for your ball toilet.” 

“Oh, uncle, how good you are;” and leaving the 
room she called : 

“ Come, mamma, I need your wise assistance.” 

And as they left the library Murillo turned to go, 
but Senator Legrange spoke : 

“Wait, I wish a conversation with you, Murillo.” 

This was the first time he called her as of old, and 


218 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBtfRG. 


under the burning splendor of his eyes, her heart beat 
fiercely. But she walked back to the window where 
she had been standing. He stood close to her. 

^‘Murillo, the sale of your father’s book increases 
daily. I have carefully invested the income, and now 
it has grown considerably. I wish to make a statement 
to you of the investments, also an accurate one of your 
dividends.” 

^^How, I have not time; it is nearly my school 
hour. Sir, I thank you deeply for your kindness. 
It was the aim of my life to have his book published, 
and you — ” 

It is the most correct and profound system of 
pS3"chology I have ever read. He lays down the prin- 
ciple of a wonderful science, and unerringly shows how 
the higher faculties of man can be developed so as to 
eradicate the lower. It is the only iiltelligent, reason- 
able treatment of that subject I have ever found.” 

Father spent twenty years of his best manhood in 
garrets writing that book. God grant that it may do 
humanity good, for it cost him his life, and left me an 
orphan.” Her face was mournful and her eyes filled 
with deep sadness. 

How few readers ever imagine the heart-pangs 
wrung from authors.” 

And the noble purpose to which they dedicate 
their lives.” 

“Too, how few know that the gloom of the garret 
begets a glory beyond the grandeur of the palace.” 

“ But the price ot bitter tears, 

Paid for the lonely power 
That throws at last over desert years 
A darkly glorious dower. 
***)(•**** 

“ Like flower-seeds bj’’ wild winds spread 
So radiant thoughts are s^'^'awed ; 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


219 


‘‘ Tho’ the soul, when those high gifts are shed, 

May faint in solitude, 

******* 

“ And who will think when the strain is sung, 

Till a thousand hearts are stirred, 

What life drops, from tlie minstrel wrung. 

Have gushed with eveiy word? 

* * * * * * * 

“ None, none I his treasures live like thine ; 

He strives and dies like thee ; 

Thou, that has been to the pearl’s dark shrine, 

O, wrestler with the sea.” 

His tones were musical and low, and thrilled her 
with their eloquence. 

Murillo, I hope you will gratify Shirley and myself 
by attending her ball to-night.’’ 

•‘You desire my attendance ?” 

“I do. You will find the Cabinet ladies elegant, 
noble and sensible; true, genuine-hearted ladies. It 
will give 3^ou pleasure to know them. Miss Cleveland 
and Mrs. Whitney are grand types of noble woman- 
hood.” 

“ Senator Legrange, I do indeed honor Mr. and Mrs. 
Whitney. Raised and nurtured all their years to a 
life of luxurious splendor, their hearts have not grown 
callous to the sufferings of humanity, but they are 
benevolent, generous friends to the poor.” 

“ Because they are so blessed is the very reason they 
should alleviate misery.” 

“ Few in their high circle realize such as their duty; 
excessive wealth has a tendency to look upon poverty 
with careless indifference or scornful contempt; the 
nobility of their nature is too genuine to have become 
thus tainted. Many are able to spend thousands in 
kind deeds, but they do not. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney 
are able, and they do spend thousands in charity. I 
do indeed honor her as a noble grand woman,” 


220 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Well, attend Shirley’s ball, and you will have an 
opportunity of meeting* your model.” 

I much prefer the solitude of my room; but — ^but 
— ” she paused and looked out upon the wide, front 
lawn, as if reflecting before making a final decision. 

That night as the hour arrived, bringing the Presi- 
dent, Cabinet members and ladies. Senators and other 
aristocrats of Washington society, Murillo descended 
the marble stairway with exceeding reluctance; she 
remembered other bitter scenes of mirth, and music, 
and festivity in those superb parlors. Senator Le- 
grange stood at the foot of the stairway and offered 
her his arm. He watched her lovely face, and knew 
that bitter memories were calmed by a mighty will. 
He remained near her the entire evening, and noted the 
deep admiration merited by her rare, imperial beauty 
and dignity. She seemed quietly brilliant in conver- 
sation, self-possessed and free from embarrassment. 
As the daughter of the distinguished philosopher, 
Marcus Lawrence, she was the center of a group com- 
posed of the American capital’s leading brains. There 
was Speaker Carlisle, the magnet intellect in the 
House of Representatives. Frequently during the eve- 
ning his brave, honest eyes flashed with electrical 
brilliancy as he responded to her eloquent reasoning. 

‘^Your logic is correct. Miss Lawrence; for when 
law permits, or supports by licensing, a course of 
crime, it gives respectability to that source, also the 
evils springing therefrom.” 

True, and our country furnishes a powerful illus- 
tration of the extent to which the influence of legal 
sanction to a source of vices may deaden and debase 
the public conscience. In high license, law only gilds 
crime, and without clamming up the fountain head of 
vice, without removing opportunities to commit evils, 
\t elevates these opportunities and sets ^ higher |)rice 
upon thern,” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


221 


Miss Lawrence, public sentiment must accom- 
plish the end you propose. Law is seldom executed in 
opposition to it.” 

‘‘And, Honorable sir, none are so powerful to 
mould public sentiment as are the great men of our 
country. You and Mr. Henry Watterson, Attorney 
General Garland and Senator Legrange are the peers 
of America, and your influence against this destroyer 
of honor and manhood, would be omnipotent to shake 
the universe. Extraordinary efforts, or impulses of a 
particular occasion may, for a time, carry up public 
sentiment to an elevation above that of legal institu- 
tions; but the laws must either be changed to come up 
to public sentiment, or public sentiment will be brought 
down to a level with the laws unless it has the strong, 
steady support of grand intellects, and moral great- 
ness. Sir, it is as plain to me as the brilliant sun, in a 
cloudless June day, that the license system of our 
country is one of the iron pillars upon which the stu- 
pendous fabric of intemperance now rests. With the 
honored Frelinghu^^sen of New Jersey, I say, ‘ if men 
will engage in this destructive traffic, if men will stoop 
to degrade their character, deaden their reason and 
conscience, deaden their honor and manhood, and heap 
uncounted misery upon their helpless, innocent loved 
ones, let them no longer have the law book as a pillow, 
or quiet conscience by the opiate of a court of law . ’ 
The question must and will be decided by the Legisla- 
tures of these United States; it must be decided for all 
coming posterity, for the world and for eternity. Sir, 
the question is a solemn one — shall the law authorize 
one man to degrade and wreck all the honor and nobil- 
ity of his weaker fellowmen ?” 

Just then Clifton Merrill approached, and addressed 
her in low tones. Gracefully excusing herself she took 
his arin and left the rogm. The conservatory wqs 


222 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


brilliantl}^ lit up and they sat down near the fountain 
to watch its sparkling spray. She had shunned this 
place since her residence under the palatial roof of 
Senator Legrange ; its memories were too bitter, and 
now her face was sad with mournful reflections. 
Veril}", the trail of the serpent is over her every Eden, 
for distinctly she heard the words from persons who 
were entirely screened from her by rank, luxuriant 
foliage : 

Ladies, what I tell you is true. I was present when 
Mrs. Legrange had this same degraded beggar driven 
out of this very conservatory. She is no more the 
distinguished daughter of a great author than I am.’’ 

Miss Florence, I know that Senator Legrange and 
his sister would never introduce to their friends any- 
one unless she was a perfect lady.” 

Mrs. Carlisle, they are duped themselves.” 

Miss Florence, I wish I believed every woman in 
America is as pure and noble as Miss Lawrence is.” 

‘,‘Mrs. Whitney, I am amazed at you. I tell 3'Ou 
you are deceived. She is a parvenu, and was as poor 
as — ” 

Poverty is no degradation, and I honor Miss Law- 
rence for struggling up out of its depths, a grand 
woman with lofty, unsullied character. She shall ever 
be a welcomely invited guest at my receptions ; and 
those who do not wish to meet her, can stay aw^ay.” 

Murillo looked up into the face of her companion ; 
a scornful brillianc}^ flashed into her eyes. The speak- 
ers were passing out of the conservatory, and quietly 
she asked : 

Which one of those ladies is Miss Florence ?” 

‘‘ The one who has paused by Senator Legrange ; 
rumor says they are soon to be married.” 

The cool man of the world, watching the exquisite 
face he loved best on earth, saw that the shaft fell 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBUR 


harmlessly, for with an expression of keen contempt, 
she replied : 

Rumor also stated, that* you are the supremel}" 
fortunate victim; hut I wish you and Senator 
Legrange better luck than to marry a woman with 
neither soul nor brains.” 

He looked keenly surprised; and she laughed con- 
temptuously. ‘‘ I am human, Mr. Merrill, and have 
several times been the victim of her erring judgment ; 
and know that I should have nobility enough to bear 
with such treatment when it springs not from mali- 
ciousness but a deficiency of brains. Yet it is some- 
times a Manassas struggle to check and hold in stern 
subjection, the combative elements of mj^ nature, and 
let the superiority of magnanimity come off victor 
from the field of wrath.” 

Anger had died out of her lovely face and now it 
was aeeply sad and solemn, under the supremacy of 
lofty high-souled resolutions. She looked down the 
conservatory to where its entrance began in the 
superb parlors ; she saw Senator Legrange sitting 
quietly listening to the gay, mirthful chatter of Miss 
Florence. His face expressed neither pleasure, nor 
annoyance; it was calmly indifferent; but hers was 
radiant. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

It was sunset, and long, level rays of yellow light 
streamed down from the western gates of paradise. 
The wide, foTest like grounds of Senator Legrange’s 
residence, with its marble walls and turretted roof dis- 
tantly seen through giant trees made a noble picture. 
Lumps of sunset gold and clustering knots of amber 
deepened and checkered with shadows rested under the 
trees. Marble statues and luxuriant leaf, and boughs 


SEVERED AT OETTVSBURG^. 


droop] iigf almost to the gTcen sward secluded the spot 
where sat Murillo with her two little pupils. Tliey watch- 
ed the whirl and crowd on Pennsylvania Avenue, from 
which the wide front grounds were divided by a hand- 
some granite and iron railing fence. Philij), her hoy 
pupil, sat near with his brown curls nestling against 
her check; while Annie, his sister, knelt on the opposite 
side fastening- a bunch of eaii^^ Spring violets in the 
slender gold pin of her governess. A statue of Henry 
Clay was just behind them, and Murillo’s head rested 
against it while each arm entwined the children. Long 
belts of deep hued amber light fell through the trunks 
of the forest trees and touched as with the brush of 
Michael Angelo the beautiful features of the boy and 
girl, and hollowed the face of their loved governess, 
and Senator Legrange, watching the splendid picture 
and the noble face of the woman he worshipped, vowed 
to win her priceless love. He sat on the marble steps 
of his mansion and his sister, standing near him, said: 

I am almost jealous of Murillo, brother ; my 
cherubs love her so devotedly.” 

She loves them.” 

‘‘ Indeed she does ; rigidly she devotes her days to 
them, and many hours of her nights I see her bending 
over a MS. hard at work. Do you know that I sus- 
pect her of being the authoress of this new book over 
which the public raves ?” 

He looked up into his sister’s clear e^^es, and replied: 

I know that she works late [every night, and like 
you, think she wrote — ’ ’ 

I cannot imagine why she conceals her name, for it 
is a grand book of which any writer should feel proud.” 

“She seems to greatly dislike publicity, and since 
Shirley’s ball, her invitations to receptions have been 
numerous, but she positively refuses to accept any of 
them.” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 225 

Just then the children came hounding up the steps 
exclaiming: 

Uncle Meredith, take us driving this evening over 
to R. E. Lee’s home across the Potomac ? Cousin 
Shirley and Mr. Horace have gone.” 

Shall we leave Miss Lawrence ?” he asked. 

Oh, no, no ; she must go with us.” 

Mr. Merrill is going to call on Miss Lawrence this 
evening, and I, too, will have a visitor. But John 
shall drive you over there this evening, so run and 
get ready.” 

They threw their arms around his neck, kissed him 
several times, and then scampered off before their 
mamma, Avho followed them up-stairs. 

Murillo stood in the deep shadows flung by the trees 
at the far end of the walk across which broad lines of 
amber light fell from the sunset through the trunks of 
the trees, while they lodged like shafts of gold in the 
forest boughs, meeting above in thick luxuriant leaf, 
\yhich threw checkered shadows on the turf below. 
And she mused ; every sunset the gates of paradise 
swing open, and we mortals catch a distant gleam of 
the golden splendor of the glittering walks of Eden. 
Its forbidden entrance is still guarded by the flaming 
sw^ords of dazzling cherubs. Man could not gaze upon 
its uncovered brilliancy, so God had drawn a curtain 
of clouds between earth and Eden. Each sunset the 
gates swing open, and through royal draperies the 
exiled children of Adam catch a glimpse of the peace- 
ful golden walks of their lost inheritance. Each exile 
has at some time in his life intended a return, but lost 
intentions, lost thoughts, go out as ships to sail the 
sea of Future ; some strike the reefs, go down, and wo 
sit waiting, waiting, but they come not back. Then 
we turn to the Past, the long, wide, dead sea, strewn 
with the wrecks of unfulfilled yearnings, unanswered 


226 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG 

prayersj of hopes that once gilded the future, of strand- 
ed good intentions, of unrealized aspirations that 
once illuminated the dark days, as stars which shed 
their beacon-light over the bosom of a midnight 'ocean, 
go out, leaving the sea- Past, cold, and gray, and wave- 
less ; a calm so dead that no wash of waters break 
over the desolate wreck-scattered shores. 

“ Like unto ships far olf at sea, 

Outward or home war j bound are we. 

But in the wreck of nobie lives, 

Something immortal still survives.” 

Sometimes they travel through trackless eternities, 
and return heavily laden with immensity, as beasts of 
burden, toiling the wide wastes of barren deserts, bear- 
ing the rich stuffs of far-off worlds. 

Good-evening, Miss Lawrence,’’ 

She looked up into the handsome face of the 
wealthy, distinguished aristocrat. 

“ I almost feared to arouse you.” 

Why,” she asked, looking not at him but westward. 

Your countenance indexed thoughts severely deep; 
and your eyes were rivetted oA those . faces hurrying 
along the Shoe, as if to read their secret souls.” 

‘‘ The avenue is crowded here every evening and I 
love to watch the eager, varied human faces. Many 
wear masks, but an acute physiognomist can read 
selfishness and meanness concealed to the unskillful 
eye. Nature never falsifies ; and if a countenance 
deceives us, it is because of our ignorance to correctly 
read, consequently our judgment errs. In the honest 
and humble we find the humanity which never wears 
a mask. Ah ! what a history is each human face ; 
each carrying its unwritten story ; some gentle, 
pathetic and patient as Raphael’s ; others volcanic 
and stern like Angelo’s ; a few powerful, and sublime 
epics as the grand, old Greek Homer.” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


227 


You dignify humanity too much; there are more 
comics, farces, and burlesques in their unwritten life- 
poems, than noble and soul-moving epics.” 

“Your judgment is based upon the lives with 
which you are most familiar.” 

“ And yours ?” 

“ Is founded upon the noblest of all sciences. 
Humanity has been my study for several years. 
Though flushed with the bloom of youth some faces 
reveal a tear-stained idyl ; and they realize Long- 
fellow’s Rainy Day. 

‘ Into each life some rain must fall 
Some days must be dark and dreary. 

“In others, beneath the hard, dark lines of sorrow, 
there is a tragedy of agony and guilt. In humanity 
there are many heroes,, and from the ashes of patient 
suffering in the cause of truth springs an immortal 
flame, a burning sublimity which the deep, dark waves 
of adversity cannot quench. Sir, each human 
countenance is an un penned history, some passion 
stamped recording a long dynasty during which ani- 
mal-self ruled supreme. Others are grand records of 
the dethronements of king-passions, and -intellect and 
honor have reigned through a long ancestral line.” 

“ But it is only in the faces of a few that we find 
the Miltonic sublimity of the epics.” 

“ For here we enter into the realms of trial and suf- 
fering, here all is mightiness.” 

“But mainly overshadowed by the darkness of crime.’ 

“ True, and it is this that makes the sublimity, for 
there is grandeur in the giant wrestlings of the strong, 
crime-cursed soul, laboring through a long lifetime of 
bitterness and anguish-stricken conscience, to expiate 
the guilt of a brief passion-cursed moment. To 
^ijake atonement, ah! sometimes it cannot be done; 


228 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


the madness of an aroused demon trait, often drives 
humanity into the committal of crimes for which 
there is no earthly expiation. The rash mad act of 
a swift moment, often sweeps man into deep guilt, and 
ciiterward, the remorse-crushed soul may wrestle 
futilely through a long desolate lifetime of agony and 
bitterness. To even attempt this atonement calls 
forth all the nobler, higher elements of man’s nature. 
It is in the epic that we find all the powerful might of 
passions of humanity — both noble and vicious — it is 
all strength and might. When life grows sober from 
experience, misfortunes and wrongs, we take pleasure 
in these representations.” 

‘^Why?” 

Because they are more congenial to the gloom of 
our own bosoms ; we require stronger and deeper ex- 
citements ; we become more intellectual and less fasci- 
nated by external beauty; we are no longer content- 
ed with mere description, but seek what will satisfy 
the reason, the soul, and the Conscience. We examine 
the depth of learning and the syithorities which cannot 
deceive.” 

Her face was wondrously fair in the early Summer 
sunshine; she was dressed in a delicate lilac-hued suit, 
Avith a cluster of pink buds nestling against her wdiite 
blue- veined throat. He stood near her, and looked 
steadily doAvn into her antique, cameo-like countenance. 

“You have suffered deeply ; for experience alone 
could have taught your youth such wisdom.” 

“My life has not been shadowless.” 

“ Give it into my keeping, and I will make it bril- 
liantly joyous at the risk of mine.” 

“ Mr. Merrill, Ave can be nothing closer than friends.” 

“ I do not take your words as a final decision ;” his 
face AA^as bitterly sad. Outside dashed the President 
and some of his Cabinet members ; folloAved by an- 


SEVERED AT GETT!fSBURG. 


^20 


other carriage in which sat Attorney-General Garland, 
Senators Eustis and Legrange. 

The President must be the happiest man in 
America,’’ said Clifton Merrill. 

‘‘ Exalted position does not always confer happiness.” 

But the deep, tender devotion of noble woman does.” 

His tones were low, his eyes filled with a yearning 
love-light she saw, but calmly replied : 

Miss Folsom’s face is very noble; the expression is 
so earnest, lofty, and pure ; as a friend her adherence 
would never waver under the strongest pressure. Too, 
the faces of his Cabinet members are peculiarly grand ; 
each indexing power in different particular individu- 
alities. Secretary Endicott’s face is the hardest, 
sternest, and I would no more appeal to him for mercy 
than I would to iron.” 

‘ ‘ Garland and Legrange are America’s greatest, 
most powerful brained statesmen.” 

Senator Jonas is a very able man.” 

He has the capacity but has not yet had the opportu- 
nity to make himself the reputation of the other two.” 

'‘ These three names, like Clay, Webster and Cal- 
houn, carry prestige and influence, and generations 
will ever honor them. Among the ancients we have 
their synonyms, Demosthenes, Cicero and Cato. 
Jonas and Clay, Clay our Demosthenes.” 

"And Conkling, a haughty, imperious, sarcastic 
statesman, our Cassius, whom the Senate feared ; just 
as ambitious Cmsar knew that Cassius was dangerous, 
so did ambitious Blaine realize that Conkling is dan- 
gerous. I admire Secretary Manning as one of the 
ablest men in the Cabinet ; he is the executive head of 
the Cabinet and faithful as steel to his party. I wish 
he, or Attorney General Garland, were President, then 
Democrats would not be so persistently kept out of 
office,” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


1>30 


‘‘ But the President is burdened with the Civil 
Service.” 

A perfect fraud put upon the staunch party that 
elected him. Were Mr. Garland, or Mr. Manning — ” 

‘‘ Or Mr. Watterson,” she interrupted. 

•‘Yes, were either of these faithful, true, iron-clad 
Democrats President, the nation vrould be in the power 
of genuine Democracy.” 

“ I think the President does his best.” 

“Which is not justice to his friends who elected 
him. I believe in adherence to friends, or party, at 
the risk of life.” 

“ So do I ; but I am thoroughly- convinced that the 
Civil Service retards Mr. Cleveland. He is right in 
acknowledging the support of the liberal Republicans 
of New York.” 

“True, but he has sufficiently returned these obli- 
gations, and what he owed to them was a State debt, 
not a national one to justify him in retaining Republi- 
cans to the exclusion of De^iocrats. The party and 
national obligations he owed to them, but he seemed 
either not to feel them, or is perfectly indifferent to 
them. Too, Bayard is genuine.” 

“ He is our Webster, and Webster was our Cicero.” 

“ Legrange and Garland ?” he asked. 

“ Are our Calhouns ; and Calhoun had the severe 
ground principles of Cato, combined with the moral 
greatness of Pericles. The force of Mr. Garland’s and 
Mr. Legrange’s oratory depends upon close reasoning, 
exact analysis, clear logic, and keen retort, combined 
with a sweeping eloquence that carries conviction 
against will to believe. The South has no greater, 
they do honor to their country.” 

“And are the noblest Romans of them all.” 

‘ ‘ They are, as W ebster said of Calhoun, the basis, 
tffie indisputable basis of all high character, unspotted 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


231 


integrity and honor unimpeachecl. Eloquence, great- 
ness, intelligence and goodness, and the last is greatest 
of them all. So while I how to Olay, and take off my 
hat to Webster, I shall kneel to Calhoun the spotless, 
the 'noble, the profound.” 

J ust then the wide, iron gates at the far end of an 
avenue swing open and a pair of splendid bays, draw- 
ing a handsome carriage, came trotting up the circular 
pebbled drive. It drew up at the front central entrance 
of the marble building and Senator Legrange stepped 
out, and as a servant approached them Clifton Merrill 
arose from the granite base of a statue on whicli they 
had been sitting. The servant paused saying, ‘^Miss. 
Lawrence, you have company.” 

Murillo took the card and glanced at the name of 

Hon. , a Congressman of prominence. As the 

servant left them and they walked up the avenue, he 
continued : ‘‘ Miss Lawrence, I shall again call, and 
pray that you will change your decision.” 

“ Mr. Merrill, I have nothing but friendship to offer 
you ; my decision will always remain unalterable.” 

It was a keen, bitter disappointment ; and he felt it 
deeply, from the fact that he had gathered his courage 
and resolution as if for a stubborn contest. Her 
dignity and imperious nature so' elevated her, that 
even a suitor with perfect self-confidence approached her 
with fear. She impressed the most venturesome and 
the most conceited, Avith her natural great sujieriority. 
That evening though she entertained her distinguished 
visitor with brilliant, easy conversation, she deeply 
impressed him that levity would never touch her proud 
name, nor coquetry lower her dignity. Her heart 
ached because she had given another pain ; with an 
infinite tenderness for all suffering creatures, it grieved 
her keenly, and her grand face Avas unusually sad. 

That night she sat before her desk writing. It was 


232 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


far past tlie noon of a warm June niglit. The windows 
were open and her desk was dravvm near a south 
A^indow opened from the floor. A cluster of Pompeian 
lamps filled the room with a soft, mellow light. She 
wore a fleecy white mull, unfastened at the neck, and 
thrown hack, showing the graceful, rounded curves ; 
her sleeves were turned up from the dimpled elbows, 
revealing arms beautiful enough for a sculptor’s model. 
Her hair was darker than a rich auburn, and clung in 
thick, light, fluffy rings on her temples, leaving the 
white, high brow uncovered. 

Outside, under the dense foliage of giant trees. Sena- 
tor Legrange walked to and fro. ’ The night was inky 
dark and oppressively sultry ; and the occasional 
gleam of his cigar was the only light visible except in 
Murillo’s room, wTiere he saw her bending tirelessly 
over her work. He was far down the Southern ave- 
nue under a thick, dense belt of trees and he observed 
her unnoticed himself. Thus she spent her - nights in 
severe toil ; all her young life had^found her a tireless 
worker, and he knew that this midnight toiling gave 
inflnite pleasure to that lofty nature in which idealit^^ 
and sublimity formed so strong an element. She 
loved her work, and toiled for the good she might do. 
The money made from her father’s great book, she 
had spent much of it in charity ; she always informed 
him of the sums she desired, and he never inquired of 
its destination. He loved her with a reverent devo- 
tion he had never felt so passionately strong for any 
creature before. A light breeze lifted the waves of 
thick fluffy rings back from her temples ; a moment 
she paused, wiped the perspiratipn from her brow, then 
resumed her writing. He knew that she had lived 
much among the poor but respectable people of large 
cities. He knew, too, that necessarily and unavoidably 
she had witnessed much degradation, but understand- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


233 


iug her noble character he did not marvel that she had 
kept herself stainless. Watching her splendidly beau- 
tiful countenance he was reminded of two faces in the 
Corcoran Art Gallery. In her restful, lovely features 
he read the stern purity of the Vestal Tuccia, together 
with the fearless heroism of Charlotte Corday. Her 
mouth, like the heroine of France, indexed gentleness, 
but unfaltering firmness— an unyielding tenacity. 
He had never known a combination so rare ; elements 
so entirely opposite ; each balancing the other, making 
a grand harmonious character ; power, decision, dom- 
inant will, combined with mercy, love, benevolence, 
and a deep, compassionate tenderness. Her nature 
was a rare inheritance of masculine qualities combined 
with feminine. She laid down her pen, walked out 
upon the wide gallery, stood on the lower marble step 
and looked up at the purple skies, a few brilliant space- 
wanderers whirling onward through inky velvet-soft 
darkness. She loved the night with its awful sublim- 
ity, its solemn grandeur of vastness, stillness of its 
boundless ether ocean of astral light. She loved to 
gaze up into that vast cathedral dome, so limitless that 
worlds serve as altar lamps; where Jupiter and Venus, 
and burning suns swing as vestal lights to a cloister 
wherein is enthroned eternal stillness and crystallized 
darkness. Ah, the millions of weary feet stamping 
through the hall of time,a vestibule to eternity; through 
that deep cathedral silence from earth to Heaven. 


CHAPTER XXX. 

Good evening, Murillo.’’ 

^'Good evening. Senator Legrange,” she returned, 
as she met him on the front steps. 


234 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Did you realize a pleasant day 

"‘Very, indeed. A Sunday spent with Mrs. Crisfc 
and her children is always a rare pleasure.” 

“ And one in which you indulge once a week?” 

“Yes, sir; were 1 to fail in spending the Sabbath 
with her, her disappointment would be almost as keen 
as mine.” 

They had both turned and had walked down the 
wide tree-belted avenue, and now they stood near 
the entrance of an iron gateway. It was a warm, am- 
ber-hued evening ; winds were whispering musical and 
low through thick, rustling foliage, checkering the em- 
erald sward with gathered shadows and lumps of gold. 
Washington thronged Pennsylvania Avenue. It was 
a scene of busy, whirling, plebeian and patrician life. 
Murillo’s eyes were closely following the weary form 
of an old woman keeping near to the iron railing. 
Suddenly she opened the gate, and stepped upon tlie 
street. 

“ Mother Dean, oh, can it ba possible?” 

The old creature gazed into the splendid face of the 
young patrician. 

“Mother Dean, I have searched for you, oh, so 
often.” 

Still there was no recognition. 

“ Have you forgotten Murillo Lawrence ?” 

“ Murillo, little Murillo, I used to rock to sleep, 
when Guido and her father were busy in their garret ?” 

“ The same.” 

She passed her bony, hard fingers over the beauti- 
ful young face, as if to fully identify it. 

“ Where have you been so long. Mother Dean? I 
went back to the old house and inquired for you, but 
none of its inmates remembered you.” 

“ Life went hard with me, dear child. I had to move 
a\\\.y, and have lived in garrets for years. Still I 


SEVBiRED AT OETTVSBURG. ii') 

have never had to beg, but sometimes my crumbs were 
few. I took an orphan boy to raise him, and three 
years ago he got work under the good President.’’ 

‘‘ President Arthur ?” 

Yes, may God ever bless him. But now he has 
been put out to make room for some one else, and 
times are hard again. We have had to use the little 
earnings he saved.” 

Murillo led her through the gateway, saying : 

‘‘You shall never suffer again.” 

Hours later, when Murillo had driven Mother Dean 
home in Senator Legrange’s handsome turnout, and had 
(sounted into the old creature’s hands a sum of money 
that would comfortably support her for long years, she 
could scarcely realize her good fortune. As the car- 
riage checked up before the fronlf entrance to the 
palatial residence. Senator Legrange stepped in, 
saying : 

“ You are merciful to all other creatures, Murillo ; 
be so to me.” 

He spread the lap robe over them and ordered the 
driver : 

“ Across the Potomac to Arlington. 

He seemed buried in deep thought as the carriage 
rolled through the handsome and vehicle-thronged 
streets. In the front grounds of the White House 
stood a long line of carriages. She inquired : 

“ Can the President be holding a reception this 
evening ?” 

He made no reply, and she glanced at his handsome, 
closely shaven face. He never wore even a mustache, 
and his strong, magnificent features were clear cut 
and distinct. They had crossed the iron bridge over 
the Potomac and now the carriage was entering the 
gi ounds of Gen. R. E. Lee’s once splendidly beautiful 
home. The golden day stole onward and broad belts 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBUEO. 

of rich amber fell through the trunks of the ma^nifj* 
cent trees which had sheltered the head of the South’s 
g*randest patriot; a deep stillness rested over the 
noble home of the exiled Confederate soldier and 
commander. Legrang-e and Murillo had descended 
from their carriage and nov^ sat on the lower step of 
the grand building — the home of Lee, now a Federal 
burying ground, confiscated and his children exiled 
from the ancestral halls of their incorruptible line of 
Lee ; confiscated because the Northern millions could 
not buy him, could not turn him traitor to the South- 
ern cause ; ah, there is the crucible that burns the 
dross from human greatness. Brave soldiers, great 
statesmen, men famed for patriotism, political leaders, 
all ranks of men when weighed in the scales of moral 
grandeur, with millions to balance one side against 
incorruptible patriotism, have been found wanting, 
and history gives innumerable records of such human 
greatness — but the nobility oi the great Lee, far out- 
weighed the Northern millions packed in the scale 
against his supreme, high character. History keeps 
record of a few such sons of unbought glory. And 
his home, too, the home of his wife and children, the 
magnificent home of his happiest life, he threw it into 
the scale with the Northern millions, it too could not 
make the beam descend. 

The brilliance of the sinking sun was golden through 
the forest trees, with their boughs drooping earth- 
ward as if to guard the Federal graves beneath. 

Murillo looked into the face of Senator Legrange, 
and she saw it was wondrously sad, while tears stood 
in his eyes. Neither had spoken since their entrance ; 
it seemed to each as if human voices would desecrate 
the holy spot. 

Ah! Lee, grand, peerless patriot, no human rever- 
ence, no matter how great, can do thee justice. 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 237 

The sun had well-nigh set when they entered their, 
carriage, and were driven homeward. 

‘^Murillo, this is the first time since the surrender 
of my chief and commander, Lee, at Appomattox, that 
I could ever visit his confiscated home. The sacrilege 
of its having been converted into a Federal cemetery 
was too great for me to witness. I never had the 
courage to drive across the Potomac to Arlington uni il 
this evening, since the day I witnessed the surrender 
of the ‘Lost Cause’ at Appomattox.” 

That night Murillo sat on the wide marble-terraced 
front entrance ; she wore a soft, fiuffy lawn of creamy 
lace-like texture, a cluster of pink moss buds Avei’o 
fastened at her slender, rounded waist. She leaned 
against the tall column, and her face was of alabaster 
whiteness in the full radiance of a mellow, softened 
moonlight. Shirley was entertaining guests in the 
parlor. The large house was silent, Mrs. Grey was 
with her children up-stairs. To-night the beauty of 
earth and sky, and the sweet whispering' of wind mel- 
ody as it quietly rustled through solemn forest trees 
wooed her from toil. Duty and toil are hard masters, 
but they drive their willing slave to the attainment of 
the noblest, truest moral beauties and moral sublim- 
ities. She was a tireless toiler, but there were hours 
when her soul demanded that exquisite pleasure which 
comes from a full, deep communion with Nature in her 
holiest, golden-touched moments. Her nature was 
dual ; she lived two lives. Her world life was prac- 
tical, proud, courageous, self-reliant, and constantly 
occupied in working out her self-imposed duties. Her 
inner life was sacred to her ; only God and his angels 
realized her lofty aspirations, her yearnings for some- 
thing better, nobler than mere toil could bring. Plato 
had no grander, sublimer ideal creations. Her head 
leaned backward, and she looked up into the blue sky 


238 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 

and yellow moon ; across her beautiful lips drifted the 
poem : 

“Have not we all amid life’s petty strife 
Some pure ideal of a noble life, 

That once seemed possible, did we not hear 
The flutters of its wings, and feel it near? 

And just within our reach it was, and yet, 

We lost it in this daily jar and fret. 

And now, live idle in a vague regret.” 

Her tones were low, and their musical eloquence 
thrilled Senator Legrange as no forensic oratory had 
ever done. Where he stoqd, in shadow of a tall 
Caryatidic column unobserved b\^ her, he watched her 
lovely uplifted countenance. Enthusiasm and a slum- 
bering* fire burned in her large, dark, eloqqent eyes, 
and she murmured : 

“ Idle in a vague regret ; no, no, 

But still our place is kept, and will wait. 

Ready for us to fill it §|pon or late.” 

Socrates, old Greek, you are right.’’ 

Murillo, to whom are you talking ?” he asked, 
sitting down by her, and looking steadily into her fine 
eyes. 

I thought that you were at the Capitol.” 

Socrates has been dead for ages, and yet you hold 
conversation with him.” 

“ I was thinking how true is his aphorism ; ^men do 
evil because they know not the good ; ’ how correctly 
he knew humanity.” 

“Men do evil from a multitude of causes; self- 
interest, a pressure of combined circumstances and 
human influence are frequently inducement to commit 
unpremeditated and sometimes unintentional evil. 
Morally weak ones do evil from a strong bending 
to wrong. Darwin and George Combe have dis- 
covered the fundamental laws of a moral science, in 


SEVERED AT GET rYSBUKG. 


230 


which is contained wise and correct natural laws, that 
science will teach how to control and regulate the 
inheritance of human faculties and human propensi- 
ties. Socrates did not understand the humanity of to- 
day. Under his moral teachings the old Greeks may 
have been a finer race than we moderns. But I think 
not ; the upward evolution of humanity is exceedingly 
slow, requiring ages, such as the scientist denominates 
ages. Murillo, I have been sent to you upon a peculiar 
mission.” 

He paused, and shelooked wonderingly into his face. 

Clifton Merrill begs my intercession in his behalf ; 
really he is a splendid catch. Wealthy, patrician line 
of ancestors ; handsome, and a distinguished, popular 
Congressman, no doubt his district will yet for many 
years return him to Congress.” 

She threw her head back and laughed merrily. 

** Quite a matrimonial recommendation ; but I fail 
to appreciate it.” 

Indeed, you should weigh the matter.” 

It is not sufficiently heavy to require much con- 
sideration. I can decide the matter without reflection. ” 

And your answer ?” 

He has received.” 

It is unalterable ?” 

‘•‘It is.” 

“ And my influence ?” 

“ Avails not.” 

“ Murillo, John Alden-like, I shall now plead my 
own cause. Tell me frankly, can you return my pas- 
sionate love ?” 

He took her hand in his, and he felt her soft, slender 
fingers close trembling in his. Her face drooped 
beyond his sight. 

“Murillo, my darling, my precious idol, I crave 
your deep love above all things.” 


240 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


She made no response, but he felt satisfied with the 
thrilling*, answering love-light of her magnificent eyes 
as they looked into his. 

A quiver of agony smote all the air and reached 
them where they sat. Outside, under the gloom of 
dense trees, stood Guido; his limbs shook, and he sank 
to tlie earth as if a mortal blow had struck him; his 
face Avas pressed against the thick turf and his hands 
clenched the withered leaves as if in a spasm of agony. 
Poor boy of genius ! Life had been so bitter, but this 
was his death wound. To-night he had come on a 
mission of mercj^, and was stabbed by the hand he had 
hoped to find faithful. That night Senator Legrange sat 
in his room by an open windoAv; his eyes gazed out upon 
the stillness and darkness of night but he murmured: 

My proud darling; my peerless Murillo, no other 
love will ever hallow thy life but mine.” 

Down stairs she, too, w^s sleepless and stood in the 
window which was opened from floor to ceiling. She 
leaned against its facing, while heavy crimson curtains 
hung in stately folds behind her. Her whole strong 
nature responded to his jpassionate love, and she knew 
that no other sceptered and crowned monarch Avould 
ever rule the proud citadel of her heart. It had sur- 
rendered unconditionally to the grand conqueror. 
But a vision of Guido, her faithful friend, rose before 
her and the whiteness of agony blanched her face, and 
numbed her heart. She remembered her promise 
given to him. 

Murillo !” 

She looked up into his face. A dim starlight re- 
vealed its utter wretchedness. 

'' Murillo, I bear you a sacred message.; Your father 
bids me tell you to come.” 

My father?” 

^/Yes,” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


241 


GuidOj lie was killed at Gettysburg.” 

'' For seventeen weary years your father has been 
confined to hard labor in a penitentiary. He was 
liberated yesterday, and the guilty put in his place.” 

^‘How?” 

^‘The penitentiary authorities never believed your 
father guilty, so when I convinced them of his innocence 
they were willing to make the exchange, on condition 
that your father’s liberty never be made known to any 
living creature but you, his daughter.” 

^•'If it should ?” 

Then he forfeits his freedom, and detectives who 
watch him, will conduct him back to the penitentiary. 
Your father gained the friendship of the penitentiary 
authorities and they have every strong faith in his 
nobility. The guilty man confessed his guilt to them, 
and a desire to suffer the unexpired sentence of the 
innocent one— 3mur father is free, and mine will expiate 
his guilt in the penitentiary.” 

‘‘Yours, Guidof” 

“Yes.” 

They had entered the room, and the gaslight fell upon 
his haggard, hollow face, aged and grief-stricken as if 
an eternity of agony had settled upon it forever. 

“ Murillo, for years I have labored that my father, 
the guilty, should expiate the sentence of your father, 
the innocent.” 

She was mute with a strange awe she had never felt 
for any living creature. 

“ Guido, do you love your father ?” 

“ Better than my hopes of eternity; but he is guilty, 
and your father is guiltless.” 

A dead, unbroken stillness fell between them. Guido 
sat on a low chair by a table on which burned a 
student’s lamp. She stood a few feet from him. His 
head drooped upon his large, thin hands. The entire 


242 


severp:d at Gettysburg. 


figure showed keen, cuttmg agony that had robbed 
life of all joy, and had made it a burden almost unbear- 
able. 

Great God, you can never know the struggle it 
cost me to deliver my father — the last natural tie 
that binds me to life — unto a lifetime sentence of a 
Government penitentiary.’^ He rose to his crutches 
saying wearily: 

In two hours I shall return for 3^ou, Murillo, to con- 
duct you to your father. Bemember that no living 
creature must know of his liberation. Get your 
valuables, and the paper Marcus Lawrence gave into 
your keeping. You will need them, also as much 
money as you have.” 

He left the room and Murillo stood as if turned into 
rigid marble. Is there no Eden uncrossed by the 
serpent’s track ? verily, no, the trail of the serpent is 
over them all.” A moment since she had dwelt in the 
ecstacy of a love-crowned paradise. Could she forever 
live without again looking upon the lofty, imperious 
face of her king — the high-priest of her idolatry. Then 
came the agonizing thought, what he would think of 
her mysterious disappearance. She could not forfeit 
his esteem. Swiftly she ascended the stairs and 
knocked gently at his door. 

‘‘Will you come down to your library for a few 
moments ?” 

He took her hand in his and as they slowly descend- 
ed to the library, unconsciously his fingers rivetted 
upon hers as if in a clasp that nothing could sever. 
While he entered and lit the chandeliers she leaned 
heavily against the doorway and the brilliant light 
soon flashed upon her white, rigid agony-set features. 

“Murillo,” his tones were passionately tender. 
Mutely she held her hands toward him, and closed her 
eves, as if to shut out the misery before her. 


severed at GETTVSBURa. 




Murillo, my darling, what troubles you. 

His arm encircled her, and she pressed her face 
against his shoulder murmuring : 

“ I could not leave without seeing you again.’ ^ 

“ Leave! what do you mean, my idol 

“This night I leave you forever.” 

“ Never; eternity cannot keep me from you. Mu- 
rillo, 3mur blanched face indicates illness; you must be 
delirious, nl^^ darling. Hush, my treasure, 3^011 have 
worked 3m ur self into fever.” 

“ No, oh no, why talk about impossibilities ; do 
you not knoAV that only death can divide us. You 
love me, my precious idol ?” 

“ I know you do, and there can be no separation.’'* 

She looked up into his face, eagerly, wistfull3^ 

“ You believe that I will ever be true to you ?” 

“ I would doubt the angels in heaven, sooner than 
doubt you, my darling.” 

“ Promise that 3mu will never doubt me.” 

“ Doubt you ! Murillo? — ” 

His low tones quivered with the intensity of his 
strong love. 

“'Murillo, your question implies that your faith in 
my confidence in you is wavering.” 

“ No; but some trials and appearances convince us 
against our desire or inclination. I dread them.” 

“ My faith is sufficient to stand against the assertion 
of God Almighty himself. It is unalterable as m3" 
love.” 

“ Good-night, I could not live another hour without 
seeing you. Pray forgive me for disturbing you.” 

He laughed as he pressed his haughty lips tenderly 
to her soft, trembling mouth. For a moment he bow- 
ed his kingly head and rested his cheek on hers ; then 
again pressed her quivering lips in a long, tender 
caress, and she left him. The struggle was ended ; 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBUIlGi. 


244 

now she stood calm and resolute, for her highest duty 
was to her father. Life would be a sacrifice of self, but 
she could wait for a union with her loved and lost, a 
union if not on earth — an endless one in eternity. 

That evening, Murillo stood and looked upon tin* 
face of her father. The brightness and glory of man- 
hood’s noonda}^ sun were set forever. Life was bari-en , 
ashen and gray. His face was old and withered, and 
lined and seamed not b^^ the weight of years, but hy 
the heavy, pressing burdens of wrong and injury 
crowded upon him by shrewd, unscrupulous men. The 
infamy heaped upon him was deep as time, broad as 
eternity, lasting as hell. He sat under the shadow of 
the prison walls; his freedom was scarcely welcome, 
for life was utterly desolate, so barren that there was 
little pleasure in liberty. His shackles lay at his feet, 
and his weary eyes gazed, absently, vacantly, upon 
them and the agony of ^reat, lonely desolation was 
upon him. He could not go back to his old haunts, 
and the few faithful friends of his past. The future 
held no allurements; life was aimless. The men who 
liad wrecked him were still living, but revenge upon 
them would not bring back his dead manhood, his no- 
ble ambitions buried for years in a penitentiary, his 
lost happiness, his unrealized hopes ; life vms ruined, 
desolated and blackened for all time. There were 
hours when the evil tempted him; and if ever it came 
into his power its widest destruction could be no more 
than justice. In his darkest, heaviest torments no- 
thing else seemed worth living for — except seeking 
vengeance upon his traitors. The bread of bitterness 
is the food upon which the really moral great grow to 
their fullest stature, their noblest strength ; heav3' seas 
of adversity sweep the moralty grand to shores sun- 
bathed with wisdom, and those whose courage and no- 
bility keep them from sinking beneath mighty waters, 


BEV^RED AT GETTYSBURG. L>45 

in the end of the storm triumphantly ride the crest of 
the tempest- vvav^e to moral power and truth. The old 
man sat broken and bent under the weig*ht of infinite 
weariness His features were sharpened to attenua- 
tion; his long* limbs were bony and skeleton-like; his rim 
of hair white as dead and bleaching bones. The glory 
of his proud manhood was gone forever; none of his 
old comrades could have recognized in this wreck, 
their strongest, bravest daredevil of the old grand 
army of Northern Virginia. 

The sun had well nigh set. But Murillo, standing a 
few feet from her father, saw heavy, thick and deeply 
cut lines upon his aged face; in the darkness of the pri- 
son walls, there was yet a fitful, dusky, reddish glow. 
His head was uncovered and drooped wearily upon his 
boii}^ hand; here and tJiere a- stray lingering sun ra^^ 
touched the silver of his hair, otherwise the depth of 
the prison shadow was on his face, that wore the weaii- 
ness and dignity of a great agony, heroicall^^ and 
silently borne. The stern soldier spirit of the stern 
old warrior was still unconquered. How weary he 
looked in his desolation ; how conqueror like in .Jiis 
grandeur of moral strength. He awaited his child and 
did not know she stood near, for his thoughts were 
sunk deep into the bitter past. He had borne his hard 
lot with stern endurance, with the strengtli and 
grandeur of a great nature. 

Father—” 

The sorrow-aged face lifted upward, in the Aveaiy 
eyes was a strange wavering light of gladness, for be- 
tween him and the sunset, he saw a proud sovereign 
creature. She came and knelt at his side, twined her 
arm tenderly around him and placing an open minia- 
ture in his hand, she continued brokenly : 

Father, I am yoiij’ long-lost child, and this is our 
dead darling.” 


severed at GETTYSBUROf. 




CHAPTHR XXXI. 

Under the deep, thick belt of forest trees, sweeping* 
down to a steep, rocky, ocean-shore line, in the heart 
of a forest, in the golden splendor of earU^ Autumn, 
when a few giant trees began turning into amber, 
bronze, scarlet and gold, there stood an antique stone 
building. It was old, stained and weather-beaten. 
From its low, peaked roof, music was floating out, 
music sweet as that of the angel choir in Heaven. 
An old man sat looking out of an open south window, 
far over the deep, dark waters of the ocean. Murillo 
sat near to her father, and resting her young face 
against his, time-seamed with heavy lines of sorrow, 
listened to Guido’s music who, in a distant corner of 
the room, sat playing uppn a magnificent piano as if 
he had forgotten alb things of earth, time and sense. 
She now dedicated her life solely, entirely to the 
promotion of her father’s happiness, and her loving 
tenderness almost filled the aching vacancy in the old 
man’s heart. Above them hung a large, splendid 
portrait of her mother, and together daughter and 
husband would sit for hours, gazing through tear- 
stained solemn silence upon the noble features of the 
young, brave, Gettysburg heroine. 

Later in the evening she kissed her father, mounted 
her horse and rode down the long, tree-shaded avenue ; 
he watched her until the distance and forest trees shut 
her from sight. Guido sat at his, side. Often the 
three would ride together, but this evening she went 
alone. A weary, deep sadness settled over his with- 
ered features and watching his face, Guido asked : 

Uncle, what troubles you ?” 

Guido, there is a look of patient sadness upon my 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


24:7 


child’s face, it deepens day by day. You know all the 
circumstances of her precious life, what troubles her ?” 

A dead silence fell between them, during which 
Guido reflected. I cannot tell thee, father; but 
her life is a daily sacrifice for him.” 

Guido, is there some secret she fears to trust me 
with ?” 

Sir, her confidence in ^mu is unlimited ; she does 
not fear to trust you.” 

Only to spare me suffering; there is some great 
sorrow darkening her young life, and she bears it 
uncomplainingly from me, to shield me. What is it, 
Guido?” 

The latter’s face was blanched in the evening sun. 

Uncle, I think your anxiety and love for Murillo 
magnify the supposed trouble.” 

The stern, soldier-brave e^^es of Hiram McPherson 
looked steadily into those of Guido. 

Guido, you who have been so fearlessly true to me 
and mine, cannot deceive me now. Who is it m}^ child 
grieves for ; who is my rival in her strong, undying 
love ?” 

Guido’s features writhed, but calmly he answered; 

Meredith Legrange.” 

There was an unbroken silence during which the 
eyes of McPherson rested upon the face of his wife 
above him and wearily he murmured: 

Again the lines of our destinies cross. Years ago 
she rejected him for me, and now justice demands 
that I stand not dividing him and our child.” 

Guido made no response, for his heart ached bitter- 
ly. His compositions in music had made him a world- 
wide reputation; his music was played under the skies 
of every civilized nation but fame satisfied not the 
deep necessities of his yearning devotion, and he 
knew that Muiillo’s love would never hallow his life. 


248 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Does lie return my daughter’s devotion ?” 

He loves her better than he does his life.” 

‘‘Then they shall not be separated much longer. 
Legrange is honor itself and we can trust him, and 
even if I forfeit my freedom, I care not, for libert^^ pur- 
chased by my daughter’s sacrifice of happiness 
becomes more burdensome than a dungeon’s chains.” 

“ What will you do;” 

“ I will write and bid him come.” 

And he did, for ten days later Meredith Legrange 
sailed for Europe. 

Thdt afternoon when Murillo had returned from her 
ride, she sat on a low stool at her father’s feet, her head 
rested on his knee. “Did you enjoy your ride, my 
darling?” 

“ Yes, father, but to-day I have felt unusually sad,- 
I cannot tell why, but all day I have, thought of deai' 
uncle Marcus. What a patient, noble, great man he 
was !” 

“He was my wife’s youngest brother; I saw him 
only twice — the evening you were stolen from him, 
and the day I returned you to him. Oh, if he had told 
me that evening that you were not his child, the miser3^ 
I w^ould have escaped !” 

“He knew not that you were iny father. He died 
believing that you had been killed at Gettysburg ; and 
our darling up there died of grief believing you killed.” 

Bitter tears rolled over the sorrow-aged face, as- 
a vision of Gettysburg battlefield rose before him, and 
after many moments of silent weeping he continued: 

“We were both shot in raising the old flag; she soon 
became unconscious, and her brother carried her from 
the battlefield, away from the rough hands of soldiers, 
and left me, he believed, to die. I was taken Avith the 
wounded to a hospital in — ^ and there throAvn into a 
corner Avith a pile of dead comrades ; the ph^^sicians 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBtJRa. 


m 

thought it useless to do anything for me, as I was then 
dying they believed. A noble woman, who visited the 
hospital to aid in nursing the wounded, heard me in 
wild delirium raving for my wife. Her heart was 
touched with compassion, and she begged that she 
might carry me to her home, but being refused, she 
stole me from the hospital, took me to her home, and 
carefully nursed me back to life. Long months had 
passed. Afterward I could never find any trace of 
wife, brother, or child, and life was unbearably desolate. 
Gen. McPherson was my cousin, as noble a man as 
ever lived. Gen. Grant knew our relationship and 
under his administration I sought work ; he appointed 
me to a lucrative position, where evil men wrought a 
network of evidence against me, and Legrange, with 
all his eloquence, could not keep me from the peni- 
tentiary.’’ 

His face grew wrathful, and his features quivered 
with a mighty passion. His clenched fist rose and fell 
as if to strike down the unscrupulous men who had 
wrecked him. 

Father, do not recall those bitter memories.” 

Murillo, time and eternity could never hurl ven- 
geance enough upon those fiends to expiate what they 
made me suffer. If ever Ben James crosses my path, 
I will — !” Heavy cords knotted in his throat, huge 
veins swelled, and choked his utterance. 

^^He is a great politician, father; a great, unscru- 
pulous demon that I trust will never know of your 
liberation. I mailed the papers of my inheritance to the 
Recamier heirs, but kept the license of your marriage 
as proof of my legal name, McPherson. We will never 
trouble them for the millions. I could never use money 
that had caused your imprisonment. Oh, father, the 
saddest thing in this life, is that the innocent too fre-' 
quently suffer from the evil deeds of the wicked.” 


250 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


The burning heat of passion had died out of his face, 
and the features were stony and mournful. 

‘ ' God’s great and wonderful laws of evolution will 
finally, before the end of time, straighten all crooked- 
ness. Through all ages science finds that the fittest 
survives, and Darwin is'the grand, infallible high-priest 
in the mysterious temple of hTature.” 

“ 6ut, father, the charge is made that his doctrine of 
natural evolution leads to infidelity.” 

Its principles are perfectly reconcilable to the cor- 
rect interpretation of Scripture. Religion, to be true, 
must be founded on these scientific principles, and the 
fault is in wrong interpretation of religion and science. 
In all ages, new doctrines have been branded as im- 
pious, and even Christianity itself offers no exception to 
this rule, for the ancient Greeks and Romans charged 
Christianity with impiety4and infidelity. The Christians 
wei’e called atheists, and their teachings atheism. Nat- 
ural religion is the basis of Christianity, and natural 
religion cannot be at variance with God’s natural laws, 
embraced under the term — science; they come from the 
same source — God, and cannot conflict. And the so- 
called conflict between Science and Religion, is because 
of grave errors made by the interpreters of written 
revelation, and the imperfect discovery in natural laws. 
Nr.oural religion and science are both infallible, because 
thjir scource is infallible, and the conflict is made by 
false interpretations. Galileo was informed by high 
chui*ch authorities that his doctrine of the revolution of 
the globe was at variance with Scripture, and therefor 
it could not be true. But time and science proved 
Galileo correct, and the Scripture interpretation errone- 
ous. Darwin and Combe have discovered the fun- 
damental principles, which, if correctly understood and 
correctly executed, would regulate the Titanic ele- 
ments of evil in human nature.” 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURa. 


251 


'CHAPTER XXXII. 

It was a golden day in middle Autumn. Murillo 
rode alone through the silence of a dense forest stretch- 
ing oceanward. She could see the blue waters 
between the reddening russet foliage. Her father 
and Guido she had left intensely occupied with a game 
of chess, and she felt at leisure to wander through 
the bridle-paths of this grand old forest. She did not 
observe that the clear blue of the skies deepened into a 
storm blue, then darkened into ebony, until a fearful 
tempest swept down. The dense forest became very 
dark, and vivid flashes of lightning blinded both 
horse and rider. Huge trees crashed around her. It 
was the same awful storm that submerged the Gulf 
coast of America, and did terrible havoc along Eu- 
i*opean ocean lines. She was seeking her way home- 
ward when above the awful roar of storm, and mighty 
sweep of maddened oceans, she heard distress guns 
from a ship lost, wrecked far from shore, out upon a 
raging, bottomless deep. She turned and as she 
1‘eached the steep, rocky coast, she saw the ship reel, 
and stagger through iron-dark waters sweeping her 
decks. Onward she struggled shoreward, bnt Murillo 
felt that the mountain breakers beating her iron sides, 
would cleave and rend her asunder. Still she neared 
the shore, walled with steep granite boulders. The 
fury increased, and the frenzy of demon elements 
i*aged and roared with awful madness. A vivid,blinding 
glare rent the dark waters, the breakers dashed over 
the vessel, and when Murillo saw her again, she was 
split and human wretches struggled with sweeping 
storm-lashed waters. With a fearless desperation 
^he urged her horse over the steep rocks, down upon 


252 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


the narrow beach, where breakers were rolling high. 
With no thought of danger she drove her steed into 
the deep, lashing ocean. Many were clinging to 
pieces of the sundered wreck, and she neared three 
struggling in the certainty of death; she reached down 
and put their hands upon her skirts and strong saddle 
fastenings and swam to the shore, there left them and 
returned again and again until her steed, becoming 
exhausted, was swept under a heavy breaker. Hei' 
hand was held in the firm iron clasp of Mei*edith Le- 
grange ; and when horse and rider rose on the crest 
of the mountain Avave she never relaxed her grasp ; 
together they would die. They liad recognized eacli 
other. Another giant breaker dashed over them ; 
again they sank ; but the noble animal with demon- 
like energy rose once more and struggled shoreward ; 
a huge billoAV, as .if a jA^a telling God, took pity upon 
such human grandeur, turned toAvards them and 
sAvept them upon the wave-washed sands. The fuiy 
of the storm Avas spent. Cottagers who liA^ed near 
noAV rushed to the scene of the disaster and the res- 
cued were conveyed to their homes. Murillo, Legrangc 
and another victim, were carried to her home. Guido 
and her father had gone in search of her, and meeting 
a cottager Avho informed them of her safety, they 
hurried home just in time to receive her prostrated 
form. 

The struggle had been too terrible, the tension too 
aAAdully superhuman, and that night Murillo lay 
motionless under a burning fever. Life Avas almost 
extinct. Hiram McPherson knelt by the side of his 
child, Avhen the door opened and Meredith Legrangc 
entered. He drew a chair near to her bedside and 
through the long Aveary hours of night they watched 
their darling. A physician A\^as kept in her room all 
night, and every human effort exhausted for her re- 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


253 


covery. At midnig’ht she fell into a deep tranquil 
sleep, and towards dawn her rest was peaceful and 
encouraging’ to her agonized watchers. Fearing all 
excitement might result seriously, Legrange sat 
backward above her head, where, if she awakened to 
consciousness, she could not see him. Thus the hours 
wore drearily and heavily away. 

The door opened softly and Guido entered. 

Will she live?” he whispered huskily, and bending 
over hei*, her large eyes opened and gazed steadily 
into his face. 

“ Do you feel better ?” 

She closed her eyes, a shudder crept over her. 

Guido, does he live ?” 

‘‘Yes.” 

“ Thank God,” were the low, eager words. 

Taking the hand of Meredith Legrange, he placed it 
upon her slender white finger. 

“ Murillo, I release you from 3^0111* pledge to me. 
Nothing' divides .you.” The grand face was desperate 
in its agon3^ “ May God bless jmur union.” 

A moment he stooped and pressed his lips to her 
brow, and with the stony numbness of an awful agon.y 
he turned wearily from the door. . On the threshold 
he paused a moment, and b^^ a powerful masteiy 
he called in deep undertones: “Uncle, the dAdng 
victim in the next room is Benjamin Huntl.y. He 
can survive onl^^ a few hours, and prays an oppor- 
tunity to implore your pardon. His crimes are hea\y 
upon him in this his hour of death.” 

Hiram McPherson found the man whom he had 
trusted, the wretch who had used and bartered that 
trust as onl}^ a traitor can, found him poor, desolate, 
old and terror-stricken in the awful hour of death. 
Conscience lashed, and his multitude of crimes 
clutched him with avenging fingers. 


254 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


Forgive/’ he muttered, scarce conscious of what he 
said. ‘‘I obeyed my tyrant and wrought your ruin.” 

‘ ‘ Kuin ! It is no word for what I have borne. Who 
was your master ?” 

The dying man heard, rose almost erect ; an awful, 
agonized terror shook'his whole emaciated form. And 
in tones inaudible except to Hiram McPherson 
whispered the name. 

I did not want to be so iron-hard, but he drove m® 
mercilessly. We were partners in former crimes, and 
his partnership was always under the law ; you may 
pardon, but oh, a just avenging God cannot.” 

Hiram McPherson’s face gleamed with the frenzy of 
rage ; but as he looked down upon the shuddering, 
terror-stricken remorse-scourged wretch, his heart 
softened, and through set teeth he heard : 

‘‘You have suffered calamity and ruin ; but you 
have never been stung with the keenness of agony, by 
the worst pang of all — remorse — a consciousness 
that your crimes are too great for pardon.” 

“ Tell me, was there fraud in my ruin his tones 
were swift with a fiery anger, and his features were 
set in a mighty passion. 

“ Fraud ! the arch-fiend in hell, could not have 
schemed a deeper, more unscrupulous fraud. But the 
law could not touch him, it was deftly done. We 
traded in men’s honor; trapped the unsuspecting, they 
are the easiest and surest game ; our business 
flourished, conscience became deadened, but when you 
Were drawn into our bottomless gulf, into our whirl- 
pool of wrecked human creatures, even I abhorred the 
work. You were so entirely unsuspecting, it seemed 
cowardly because you dreaded no danger, your trust 
in me was complete. It was viler than murder.” 

“ But you kept within the law.” 

There was intense sarcastic contempt in the words* 


SEVERED AT GETTYSBURG. 


255 


traitor is viler than Satan and onl^^ a traitor 
would barter such trust.” 

‘ ‘ The greatest criminals — great men Avhose crimes 
are skillfully hidden under the law — never stand in a 
criminal’s dock.” 

The words came slowly, and through the long hours 
McPherson watched the dying wretch. And at set of 
sun, the sin-burdened soul took its way through that 
vast cloister stillness — eternity — to the judgment bar 
of God. And looking down upon the dead, hushed face 
he forgave the slaughter of his proud name, the 
slaughter of the noblest years of his manhood, forgave 
as freely as he hoped to obtain forgiveness unto his 
sins. 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Murillo had been married one month. Meredith 
Legrange had resigned his seat in the Senate, and now 
they lived utterly apart from his proud patrician world. 
Shirley had married well, and Mrs. Grey and her 
children still resided in his palatial mansion. Murillo 
frequently received long letters from them, also her 
truest of friends, Mrs. Huntly and Mrs. Crist. She had 
written to the former of her husband’s death. Guido 
was studying music in Venice. Under the white lustre 
of brilliant stars Murillo sat under the shelter of the 
antique stone portico, her head rested upon her 
husband’s bosom, his strong arms encircled her, and as 
her e^^es looked up into his splendid face, his gazed 
steadily" down into hers, and he murmured : 

My darling, my idol !” 

Hiram McPherson sat within the lighted room. He 
had received a long letter announcing the death of 
his half brother, Guido’s father ; his head drooped 


250 SEVERED AT GETTYSBURd 

upon his hands, and he mused on the days of their hoy- 
liood. That night far under Southern violet skies, sat 
Guido within the shadow of an old ruined temple of 
Venice. The glories of a heautiful starlight were 
above him, and the deep silence was only broken by 
the lulling sound of Avater lapping the stone Avails. 
His father’s death had left him utterly alone. True to 
the promise given a dying mother he had returned to 
liis father and visited him daily until death severed 
them. Conscience AA^as roused and the guilt-stained 
after-years of debauch and crime flung the rem- 
]iant of a Avasted life at the feet of a merciful God. 
Guido, the lonely, isolated cripple, but child of a 
mighty genius, liA^ed noAV Avedded to his art. 
It was a Avorld, and home, and friends to him ; bu^j 
buried deep in the depths of his strong heart was the 
sepulcher of his idol. Life had been one continual 
sacrifice, a holocaust yf self, but through its darkness 
and bitterness he had cleaA^ed to truth ; through temp- 
tations to honor; through agony to justice. Under 
purple skies, AAutli the hush of a deep stillness 
surrounding him; with the sanctity of a quick con- 
science, the crucifixion of ignoble passions, he had 
I'o^ched moral sublimity, had mastered self b^^ 
st^dy, ceaseless struggles — and a peace that pass- 
eth all understanding ” hallo Aved his present and 
gilded his future — 


“ Even as a bow which God has bent in heaven. 


neliovoca. "XTV^itlxoiJLt: 

TliG sufTcrer fi-'^in Con'll ipation and Piles should test the 

gluti:n suppositories, which cure most cases by in- 

CKP:ASiNa TUK NUTUi'rioN OF THE PARTS, thus induciiig desire and 
strenglhening ihc power of expulsion. 

ltEAI> TlflE EVinElVCE. 

Dr. a. W. Thompson, Noriliampton, Mass., says: “I have tested 
the Gluten Suppositories, and consider them valuable, as, indeed, 1 
expected from the excellence of their theory.” 

Dr, Wm. Tod Helmuth declares the Gluten Suppositories to be 
“the best remedv for Constipation which 1 have ever ])re>cribed.” 

“As Sancho Panza said of sleep, so say I of yoiir (Jluten Suppos- 
itories: ‘^‘God bless the man who invented them !” — E. L. Ripley, 
Burlington, Vt. 

“I have been a constipated dyspeptic for many years, and the 
effect has been to reduce me in flesh, and to render me liable to no 
little nerve prostration and sleeplessness, especially after preaching, 
or any special mental effort. The use of Gluten Suppositories, made 
by the Health Food Co., 74 Fourth Avenue, New York, has relieved 
the constipated habit, and their Gluten and Brain Food have secured 
for me new powers of digestion, and the ability to sleep sound^^ 
and think clearly. I believe their food remedies to be worthy of tp 
high jiraise which they are receiving on all sides,”— Rev. John II. 

Paton, i\lich, , , ^ . /-ti * 

“I cannot speak too hidily of the Health Food Company s Gluten 
Suppositories, as they have been - perfect, God-send to me. I believe 
them superior to anything ever c wised for the relief of constipation 
and hemorrhoids. 1 have siiffen 1 from these evils more than twen- 
tv vears and have at last found s distantial relief through the use of 
tiie Gluten Suppositories.”— Cyrus Bradbury, Hopedale, Mass. 

Send for our HEARTH FOOD RITEKATUKE. 

hearth :: FOOD :: COMPANY, 

4th Avp. & loili St, adjoining Stewart’s. New York. 


YOU MAN ■5,’''':% ^ 

DICTIONARY 

OF 

Every-Day Wants. 

' Containing^ 20,000 Beceipts in Eyery Department of Human 

Effort. 

BY A. K. YOUMAJSr, M. B. 

Bejal Octave, 630 Pagea. Price in Clotn, $4,00; Leaner, $4.75 
$100 a Year Saved to all who rcs:e:s and Bead this Book I 

Ko book of greater value was ever offered to Agents to sell. The fe-ilowliig 
Hit ©f trades and professions are fully represented, and information of great 
value given in each department. Our 16-page circular, giving full description, sent 
free to any address. 


Clerks, 

Lumber Dealers, 

Hardware Dealers, 

W atchmak«rs. 

Bookkeepers, 

Miners. 

lEngrayers, 

Dyers, 

Farmers, 

' Opticians, 

Furriers, 

Coopers, 

Stock-raisers. 

Whit^vashers, 

Glaziers, 

Coppersmiths. 

Gardeners, 

* Soapmakers, 

Grocers, 

Machinists, 

Florists, 

Trappers, 

Hotel Keepers. 

Curriers. 

Builders, 

Tinsmiths, 

Iron Workers. 

Doctors, 

Merchants, 

Cabinetmakers, 

Authors, 

Egg Dealers. 

Druggists, 

Housekeepers. 

Nurses, 

Electrotypers, 

Photographers, 

Bankers. 

Perfumers, 

Fish Dealers, 

Architects. 

Barbers, 

Roofers, 

Gas Burners, 

Artists, 

Inspectors, 

Stereotypers. 

Glove CRaners, 

^pakers. 

Bookbinders, 

Tanners, 

Gunsmiths, 

Confectioners, 

Gliders, 

Vnmishers. 

Hucksters, 

Engineers, 

Painters. 

Cooks. 

Lithographer^^ 

Flour Dealers, 

Shoemakers, 

Builders, 

Milliners, 

Glass Workers, 

Clothiers, 

Dairymen, 

Dentists, 

Hair Dressers. 

Dressmakers, 

Carpeiders, 

Plasterers, 

H'»tterp, 

Dry Goods Dealers. 

('arvers, 

Scourers, 

Ink Makers, 

Brewers, 

Jewelers, 

Tailors, 


We want Agents everywhere to sell this invaluable work, to whom we efPei 
big pay. A copy of the book will be sent by mail, postpaid, to any address, npwa 
receipt of price. For agents’ ten**", territory, and further >artlculur8, addreM 

J. S. OGILVIE Si CO., Publishers, 

F. L Box 276Y. il Bose Street. New 



I 


J 


I 



> • 1 
V / » 




) 


1 , 




i 





^ • 


i 







% 





•s' 


I 


N 


t 

\ • 




f 





t 





« 


% 



4 ^ 


« 


t 


I 


' ' * I V 


< < 

\ 


» 


i 


f 



A 

■ \ 


S r,.^. 


i 



^ I 


t 


I 

4 


i 

* 5, 


• tt 

* • 





r S 
• >• 




.( 


4 


I 


» 

I 


i 



\ 

* 

irxiiv ' 




\ 

1 . 


f 


t 









f . 


r 

1 


•■j 


1 1 









LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 













